Size #6 Dry Flies

[wiFlyFisher]

I am looking for a good size #6 dry fly hook. I have been looking at a lot of online fly shops and I can't find any carry size #6. Please, looking for suggestions?

My rant: The hackle growers today have done a great job of creating capes and saddles with amazing hackle in sizes #12 down to #28. BUT... in the process we have lost the larger dry fly hackle. No bird can give produce both the larger sizes and the smaller feather sizes.

I stopped at one place today where the guy has hundreds, hundreds and hundreds of capes and saddles and I could not find any quality size #6 dry fly hackle (meaning no webbing for that size). We have lost our spade hackle and larger dry fly hackle sizes. I hope some breeder sees the opportunity to breed for larger dry fly quality feathers. It's hard to tie a size#6 Quack Coachman when you can't find any size #6 Coachman Brown dry fly hackle.

John

[catskilljohn]

Johnny,

I have 94840's [the old ones] in sizes 4,6 and 8, could you use those? CJ

[wiFlyFisher]

Johnny,
I have 94840's [the old ones] in sizes 4,6 and 8, could you use those? CJ

That is what I am looking for Mustad 94840 (in the new version) and no one stocks 6s and 4s. I still have some old 8s but I am out of the 6s. I am not sure if I ever had 4s. I like to tie some big classic types dries for June evening trout fishing. It's frustrating that you can't find the larger hooks or larger hackles anymore.

Thanks, CJ.

[catskilljohn]

I will get some in the mail tomorrow John! CJ

[wiFlyFisher]

I will get some in the mail tomorrow John! CJ

CJ. Thank you... Hold off, I think I found some on ebay...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/300865534085?lpid=82

Hook and Hack too...

http://store.hookhack.com/Mustad-94840- ... ducts/212/

John

[catskilljohn]

If it doesn't pan out let me know. CJ

[Joe Fox]

https://www.detteflies.com/R50-94840

I'm forced into tying a lot of larger dries for people. I use strung Chinese saddle hackle. Most is not ideal, but in most bundles I find quite a few large feathers suitable for dry flies.

[wiFlyFisher]

Joe, do you have any large dry fly hackle in Coachman Brown?

Thanks!

[ewpeper]

If you're just looking for body length a Mustad 79580 in 8,10 or 12 will give you the equivalent of a 4, 6 or 8 94840, and the correct hackle sizes will be a bit easier to find. It'll probably float better too as the 79580s will be lighter than the eqiuivalent length 94840.

Just a thought.

Eric

[catskilljohn]

If you're just looking for body length a Mustad 79580 in 8,10 or 12 will give you the equivalent of a 4, 6 or 8 94840, and the correct hackle sizes will be a bit easier to find. It'll probably float better too as the 79580s will be lighter than the eqiuivalent length 94840.
Just a thought.
Eric

Good advise Eric. Caucci states this in his book, where a longer shank smaller gape hook weighs less too. I personally don't like the look of a heavily dressed fly on small gape hook but the floatation benefits overshadow that. CJ