Hook Color

[ChrisTheFish]

Do you think that hook color should be of much concern when tying flies? Do you think that the color matters with varying sizes of the flies one is tying?

I have a bajillion size 28 hooks that are gold and have wondered if they would only be good for tying a certain kind of fly...
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[Dryrod]

[font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]Hi there CTF - I don't think that color matters at all. Perhaps the gold hooks you have might add a bit of flash to the fly. BTW next time that you are in a fly shop check out their display of hooks. You will be hard pressed to find a color other than black or chrome.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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[Brook]

In general, I don't think hook color matters. But there are exceptions.

Crappie seem to hit better on gold hooks, when bait fishing. I concur in that observation, but have never heard a reasonable explanation why. I tie crappie flies on gold hooks, out of habit. But most of the time the hook isn't particularly visible, so it shouldn't have any effect on hook-ups.

On really really small flies, gold hooks are good for patterns that normally would require a tinsel body. But I don't think it matters to the trout, particularly.

Salt water hooks, typically, are silver colored. But that's for corrosion resistence; they're either stainless or chromed. In the old days, salt-water hooks were enamaled black for the same purpose.

Brook
http://www.the-outdoor-sports-advisor.com
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[flygoddess]

I agree that the hook color doesn't really matter, but as Brook mentioned, but from a different angle, sometimes hook color can be a good thing.
I tag allot of flies with red, but I also have red hooks that seem to be a natural tag and I think it helps trigger hits from time to time.
Most my hooks are gold or bronze...steelhead in black.
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