Thanks Phreak. I'll report back on my experience.

H2H, jig hooks swim with the hook pointed up. I would think they wouldn't be so good for snagging. As for the situation on the Stilly, I've seen more than I needed. There were steelheaders with conventional fly gear that became fairly adept at snagging back when Fortson had 80 - 100 summer runs stacked in it during low water. (Fortson was about twice as long as present prior to the 1980 flood.) But the kings have been under attack for as long as I can remember. I've found a Montana grey nymph (4/0 treble with lead wrapped shank attached to 80 # dacron) in a tree and even encountered 4 guys with a spear gun once. Oh, and a real dupond spinner went off several hundred yards upstream once. All kinds of debris came floating down, and then the water became turbid for a few minutes. I've encountered some real "sportsmen" over the years.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.