 |
Parts needed: To create
high quality tandem hook rigs begin with the best materials. You will need
a fly tying vise, fly tying bobbin, Sevenstrand 49-strand stainless steel wire,
cable cutters, 5 minute epoxy, Eagle Claw # L1182 in size 10/0, scissors,
heat shrink tubing, a cigarette lighter and a ruler. |
| Thread wire on rear
hook: Place the Eagle Claw # L1182 hook in the fly tying vise
and tighten. BE CAREFUL THESE HOOKS ARE SHARP!
Cut eleven (11) inches of 170-pound (for #1 to 4/0 size hooks I use
90-pound wire and for 5/0 size hooks and larger I use 170-pound wire). Bend the
wire in half and insert the loose ends into the eye of the hook along the top side. |
 |
 |
Rotate the wire around the
hook: Remove the hook from the vise and rotate the
bent end around the
hook point and under the hook shank. Pull the tag ends as tight as possible, use
pliers to get it really tight. Place the hook and wire rig back in the fly tying vise and
secure firmly. |
Thread wrap
and epoxy: With a heavy fly tying thread (I use old braided line that
has been removed from my fishing reels) tie the wire down on the
hook. Apply heavy pressure to compress the wire around the hook shaft and secure
the wire connection. Be sure to completely cover the bend in the wire, this
will smooth out the bend in the wire and streamline the wire to the hook.
Complete the thread wrapping with a whip finish.
Mix some 5-Minute epoxy (Ensure there is adequate ventilation when working
epoxy and follow the manufacturers directions fully) and cover all the thread wraps liberally with the
epoxy. Rotate the hook in the vise until the epoxy begins to harden, this will ensure
that the epoxy cures in a circular manner creating a smooth round surface.
|
 |
 |
Heat shrink the rear hook:
After the epoxy
has cured completely (allow at least an hour) cut a three and one half (3
1/2) inch section
of 3/8-inch heat shrink. Slide the heat shrink over the ends of the wire
and down over the eye of the hook until the wire is covered. Apply heat (a blow drier works great)
to the heat shrink causing the tubing to shrink to the hook and wire
rig. |
| Attach lead hook: Place the second hook in the
vise and secure. Wrap a base coat of
thread along the hook shaft. Insert the wire ends through the eye of the second
hook. Align the hook points to face in the direction you choose, I choose 180
degrees for this rig. IGFA requires that the hooks be "no less
than a hook's length apart". Measure the distance and adjust as needed. Wrap thread around the wire and attach it to the hook as you did previously. |
 |
 |
Complete thread wrapping: Bend ends of wire back under the hook shaft
on the opposite side that they entered on. Pull the ends of the wire tight to
keep the wire as close to the eye as possible. Insert a dental pick into
the eye of the hook to ensure that the wire is pushed as far back as
possible in the hook eye. Wrap thread over the ends of the wire and cover
completely. Whip finish the completed thread wraps. |
| Epoxy the lead hook: Epoxy the hook wrap as you did in the previous step. Rotate the hook
in the vise until the epoxy begins to harden, this will ensure
that the epoxy cures in a circular manner creating a smooth round surface.
Cover all the thread wraps completely but keep the eye of the hook as
clean as possible. |
 |
 |
Apply heat shrink to the lead
hook: After the epoxy
has cured completely (allow at least an hour) cut a three 3/4-inch section
of 3/8-inch heat shrink. Slide the heat shrink over the eye of the hook
until the end of the tubing is flush with the hook eye. Apply heat (a blow drier works great)
to the heat shrink causing the tubing to mold itself to the hook and wire
rig. |
| Snell the tandem hook rig:
Once completed I attach the shock leader (I use 80 to150-pound test fluorocarbon
depending on the game I am after) using a 10-15 wrap snell, this completes the rig and ensures that the wire will not
pull apart under pressure. A liberal coat of Fishin' Glue to the monofilament
snell locks the line to the hook solidly. I leave 18 inches of line on these
rigs (more than enough to tie the hook and shock leader to a class
tippet). When I am ready to use this rig all I do is run the shock leader,
with the tandem hook rig, through the lure and attach to the
class section using a Huffnagle knot. Tie these at home and it will save many
frustrated hours on the boat. Debard the hooks as needed or to aid in
releasing the fish. |
 |
