Profiles
Content provided by Ron Reinhold
Due to unavoidable shadows during scanning, some areas of the hooks may appear slightly bigger than they actually are. I plan to replace many of these photos with much more detailed shots soon.
Ronn
Jock Scott
Photographs of original Jock Scott patterns show this hook employed in the fly. I have seen different photos that appear to show the pattern tied on hooks of differing weight, thus I offer the hook in “standard” and “stout”. It appear to be a sproat style that may be attributable to Mr. Sproat of Ambleside (See Francis Francis, 1867, “A Book of Angling””). It may have been eventually manufactured by Hutchinson, circa 1867. A glaring feature is that the barb is approximately the same length as the point. Rick Whorwood gifted me an original hook that I used for the replica pattern. Thank you Rick!
Jock Scott Stout
The same hook as the JOCK SCOTT, but made from heavier wire. To maintain correct proportions, the barbs and points are slightly longer on the STOUT.
Brittannia
Paul Schmookler shows this hook in the Brittannia fly (antique) on page 67 of his book “Rare and Unusual Fly Tying Materials: A Natural History, Volume 1.” The fly has a great name so I elected to apply it to the hook also. My best guess, because of its classic lines, is that the hook pattern may have origins from O’Shaughnesey, circa pre-1820.
Noble S
These are replicas of a contemporary hookmakers hook, thus the “S” in the hook name. We are good friends and I promised him that I wouldn’t use his name in my literature. He acknowledges that the hook was developed from an unknown antique. Charles Vestal recently sent me a plate of antique hooks manufactured by C. Playfair & Co., Union Bridge, Aberdeen. The bend of the Playfair hook is an exact match of the NOBLE S bend, although the shank of the Playfair juts at a more open angle.
T.E. Pryce Tannatt
These are “rationals” from T.E. Pryce-Tannatt’s book, “How To Dress Salmon Flies.” Plate X. Group A. I’ve only made dies for the two hooks because the book’s depiction shows different bends in the different hook sizes. If you are looking for one of the other sizes please let me know.
Harrison & Bartleet
This style matches some hooks also known as “Harrison’s.” My guess is that the name has been referred to in abbreviated form and simply called “Harrison’s.” There is evidence in the literature, however, that “Harrison & Bartleet” and Harrison & Co.” were companies that co-existed during the same period of the late nineteenth century. See Pennell, H. Cholmondeley, 1885, “Fishing.”
William Bartleet & Sons
All sizes are based on a fine 3/0 antique specimen. A shallow throat and short point are the primary features.
William Bartleet
These hooks are based on the plates published in two books: Kelson, 1895(96?), “The Salmon Fly,” and Hale, 1892, “How to Tie Salmon Flies.” The hooks depicted in the plates are artwork possessing irritating inconsistencies that do not favor creating identical hooks in a variety of sizes. Nonetheless, I tried to replicate a decent 6/0 then used it as a pattern for the larger sizes 7/0-10/0.
Phillips-Jones
This is the Phillips pattern depicted in the fly plates of Frederic Tolfrey’s “Jones’s Guide To Norway,” 1848. Unlike the light-wire Phillips pattern in Francis Francis’, 1867, ”A Book on Angling,” this is a heavy-wire pattern. Rick Whorwood acquired a nearly indisputable original (with provenance) that is an exact match of the hook used in the “Colonel” in Tolfrey’s book. Rick loaned the hook to me for making the replicas. The original can be seen in the Winter 2001 issue of Fly Tyer magazine. The point on the original is so crude that I abandoned it and substituted it with the Dublin style.
Emerald Isle
This is a curved-shank adaptation of the Phillips-Jones style hook. The throat is shallower than the Phillips-Jones and the point is formed at a different angle.
Phillips-Ephemera
1850, “The Book Of Salmon,” depicts a larger scale of the same Phillips limerick pattern as shown in Francis Francis, 1876, “A Book On Angling.” This is Ephemera’s version of the #1 Phillips Limerick. Thanks to Paul Rossman for the information.
Phillips-Limerick
These hooks are based on those depicted in Francis Francis, 1867, “A Book On Angling,” Plate 15. They are light-wire hooks and quite springy in the vise. Be careful when ordering because each size, just as the book depicts, has a slightly different bend than the other sizes. See explanation below for NOBLE P hooks before ordering. The NOBLE P style is more stout.
Noble P
These are heavier-wire versions of the Phillips Limerick hooks, thus the “P in the name. They’re just a slim diameter heavier, but not nearly as springy in the vise. Many tyers prefer these to the Phillips. The appearance of a finished fly is changed slightly, but you have to look close.
Noble DS
This pattern is based on a hook given to me by Derl Stovall, hence the “DS” in the name. It’s of unknown origin, but was previously, and erroneously, referred to as a “Recreation” style. The original is painted, and probably of modern origin.
Harrison Hollow Point
To the best of my knowledge these are actually “Harrison & Bartleet” hooks, but are better known by their common moniker, “Harrison Hollow Points.” The Noble HB style below is the same hook, but the points are Dublin instead of hollow.
Noble HB
Same hook as the Harrison Hollow Point above, except the points are Dublin style on these.
Noble RM Sproat
Roger Mims’ favorite hook. Adapted from an old Mustad 3899 which had a hollow point. Roger wanted a Dublin. His idea so he gets attribution in the name.
Millward Bartleet
A nice little hook for short-material Speys.
Droughtwater Dee
These are light-wire low water hooks base on a Wm. Bartleet & Sons pattern.
Wm. Blacker
A new Hook profile in 8/0 and 9/0.