Keel dry flies??

[PAGH]

I purchased a box of used trout flies that has a couple dozen unusual parachute dry flies without posts. The hook point rides up, hackle is wound around the beginning of the bend, shank is straight and the eye is straight, in the same plane as the hook bend.

Who is credited with creating this style?

Mid 60’s?

Early 70’s?

Or another era?

Which hook companies made this style hook?

Thank you in advance to those willing to share their knowledge.

PAGH

[Webfly]

I remember them being called Water Wisp flies. You may want to do a Google search on that.

[Norm Frechette]

like some of these

[Norm Frechette]

i dont believe water wisp flies used "keel" hooks

[PAGH]

Webfly and Norm,

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. They are not true keel flies but appear to be Waterwisp or tied on that style hook. I just looked at one and I was wrong—shank is slightly curved, not straight as I originally posted.

They appear to represent a cripple or perhaps an emerger. About 3 weeks ago a nice rainbow took one in some choppy/fairly fast riffles. Unfortunately he threw the hook with some violent head shakes as I tried to bring him upstream—fun fight while it lasted.

Have either of you fished this style of dry fly?

Thank you,
PAGG

[GrsdLnr]

The late Roy Christie had a fondness for upside down flies, but he used "normal" hooks -

Easy Peasy Upside Down Dun

Avon Special

All respect to my old mate Roy, they never worked any better for me than a Harrop Hairwing Dun, which I find easier to tie.

[waltryan1]

Partridge has made some odd hooks in the past. This one seems to be a current product: https://www.bobmarriottsflyfishingstore ... t-phksju08

[Red64]

I used to tie keel flies in the mid 1970, mostly patterns for Bass fishing. I believe Mustad made them and as I recall they were only made or marketed for a "short time" - 6 to 7 years (?).

[slw]

Dick Pobst invented the keel hook in the mid 1970s. At first they were made only by Eagle Claw...style# 1213....and only available in large sizes for bass bugs and streamers. I still have some in #2 and #4. Then in 1976 Orvis had Partrdge make some in #16 and #14 for dry flies. They never caught on and didn't last in the market. Here's a rememberence of Dick Pobst:

https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/reme ... dick-pobst