Originally Posted by JayZS

Did you never go into Arrandales, (actually called Arrowsmiths, I have now been corrected By Billy) in Gorton, before they knocked the shop down? He had everything, no matter how old. A right Alladdin's cave. He even still had silk lines in the 60's. They were nearly as old as the owner's sleeveless pullover, worn under braces and tucked into his pants. I used to love that shop, always came out grinning having seen or heard something ridiculous. The utter rubbish he used to try to sell me as a teenager defied belief.

That's a blast from the past, used to go in there with my Grandad He thought much the same about the place, but it was the nearest tackle shop to him.

Originally Posted by billyfish

yes kev used spade ends all my life. i was taught to tie spades ends when i was a kid. the problem is just recently the hooks i use whitch are kamasan B611 the spade has been very sharp and cutting through the line.. thats why i changed to eyed hooks only last week.. THAY DONT MAKE EM LIKE THAY USED TO kev.????billy

I use these and never have a problem. Always make sure that it's coming from the inside then you'll have no problems at all (see below, admittedly the tag is a liitle long in the example).




The only way the line will be cut is if you've got the line on the outside of the shank, then the spade saws against the line and you'll get an almost clean cut.

Originally Posted by drynetter

I use these and never have a problem. Always make sure that it's coming from the inside then you'll have no problems at all (see below, admittedly the tag is a liitle long in the example). The only way the line will be cut is if you've got the line on the outside of the shank, then the spade saws against the line and you'll get an almost clean cut.

hi drynetter.. u dont say what size hook that is on.. the bigger hooks theres no problem.when your down to 16.18. even 20. a forged hook no problem. the line grips it but the b611 are a wire hook. and just lately the spade as been small and very sharp.i will have to rethink my hooks its all trial an error till you find one that your happy with..if i am using maggots i like to match the colour of the hook to the colour of the bait as near as dam it. thats me other anglers have got there own opinion.. billy

You may have a duff batch?

I rarely (close to never) use an eyed hook smaller than a 14's. From 14's to 26's it spade end all the way.

I'm still finding it hard to understand how line can cut at the spade. Unless it's tied on the wrong side. The line going towards the hooklength knot will be running parallel to the shank and running away from the spade, the actual knot itself run around the shank at 90º...

B911 hooks are quite strong, when compared to some other patterns, you shouldn't really be experiencing any problems with them at all, have a real close look at them, if they're damaged and have burrs on them it may be a different matter. Return them to the shop may be an option?

Originally Posted by drynetter

You may have a duff batch? I rarely (close to never) use an eyed hook smaller than a 14's. From 14's to 26's it spade end all the way. I'm still finding it hard to understand how line can cut at the spade. Unless it's tied on the wrong side. The line going towards the hooklength knot will be running parallel to the shank and running away from the spade, the actual knot itself run around the shank at 90º... B911 hooks are quite strong, when compared to some other patterns, you shouldn't really be experiencing any problems with them at all, have a real close look at them, if they're damaged and have burrs on them it may be a different matter. Return them to the shop may be an option?

the hooks are b611 used them for years no problem until recently.?? been using spades for 50 years..thers no burrs. just sharp..b611 are very smooth and when i have tied one on i pull it tight to make shure its bedded in and found its cutting through the line. i think your right its just a bad batch.??? if the line doesnt rest against the spade. whats the spade for.??? billy

Originally Posted by billyfish

. i think your right its just a bad batch.??? if the line doesnt rest against the spade. whats the spade for.??? billy

Try tying a spade end knot on a bare spadeless shank, and you will soon see why it is there ;-)

Originally Posted by JayZS

Try tying a spade end knot on a bare spadeless shank, and you will soon see why it is there ;-)

hi jayzs. drynetter was saying i must be tying it on the wrong way round or it wouldent cut through the line??? it doesent matter what way round if the spade is like razer blade??? what say U???billy

What say I? Well I suspect Drynetter is rather more qualified than I am to comment on spades. I haven't used a spade end for close on 50 years.
I would find it hard to see how a spade could cut the line unless the knot encroached onto the flat part of the shank. I think that as the angle to a fish changes, the shank would turn to a degree to follow the line, and as such should not be getting cut. But as I say, no real experience, so take this with the usual pinch of salt. My own instinct would be to have the line lay on the outside of the hook though, not the inside as suggested by DN. With the hook in a fish, and tension in the line, the line makes an angle away from the shank, and away from the side of the shank that eventually forms the inside of the hook curve. Stick the point into something and pull the line to observe this. Check how the line looks with relation to the spade. Might it cut?

However I have had TWO small eyed Kamasan's actually break this week where the curve meets the shank ( admittedly on pulling off snags).

Originally Posted by JayZS

Try tying a spade end knot on a bare spadeless shank, and you will soon see why it is there ;-)

You don't always need the spade I'm not sure if you can still get them, but we use to use hooks with a twist in the shank (no spades). Admittedly, the were for small fish.