Just in case you are as curious as I was, Just what does the "Y' designation stand for on two of Tiemco's dry fly hook models that are given that designation?

These hooks are made for tying flies to tempt the very difficult Yamame fish found in many Japanese streams. My next question is: What do the Tenkara flies tied on these hooks look like? I was hoping that someone out there who has access to people or information in Japan could come up with an answer and pictures of those fly patterns.

Here is a link that provides a picture of what the TMC 102Y and TMC 212Y Hook models look like:

https://catalog.theflyshop.com/index.php?cPath=428

The 102Y appears when the page comes up. You have to scroll down 4 hook rows to find the 212Y TMC hook. You can click for more detailed information by clicking on each hook title for each respective hook. I am sorry for this inconvenience but the exact address would only link up for the first person who tried it and not continue to work there after. One of the uses for the 212Y is to tie Klinkhamer style dry flies with, which is an emerger, parachute style dry fly pattern. Here is a link to a picture of what these Klinkhamer style patterns look like: http://ronsfishing.wordpress.com/tag/klinkhammer/

I'm a little surprised they aren't blue (not really). I have gotten "Yamame" hooks from Gamakatsu and now Owner (not yet on the website) and they're both bright blue.

Chris, the colored hooks are a more recent development than the TMC 102Ys are, which I have been using for at least 15 or more years now. Like the hooks you spoke of, the TMC 212Y and the Gamakatsu C15-BV Vertical-Eye Barbless hooks are newer hook styles than the much older and well established 102Y Tiemco hook.

Do you have any information on the flies that are being tied in Japan on these different hook styles?