Explore the rich history of Ray Bergman’s “Nyack” brand fly hooks. Sourced from the finest Sheffield steel in England during the mid-20th century, these Medium Long Size 4 hooks were sold by the legendary angling author for tying classic streamers and bucktails. Today, these bronzed, vintage hooks are highly coveted by classic fly tiers and tackle collectors for their historical significance and connection to Bergman’s famous book, Trout.
Ray Bergman Nyack Medium Long – Additional Info
1. Identification
- Brand: Ray Bergman “Nyack” Brand
- Model/Code: Medium Long
- Size: 4
- Estimated Era: 1930s–1950s (Based on the typography, packaging, and the active years of Ray Bergman’s tackle business in Nyack, New York).
2. Technical Specifications
- Eye: Turned Down Eye (TDE), looped
- Wire: Standard
- Shank/Bend: Medium Long (Approximately equivalent to a modern 3x or 4x long shank), Sproat bend
- Finish: Bronzed
3. Historical Context
Ray Bergman is one of the most celebrated figures in American fly fishing history. Serving as the angling editor for Outdoor Life magazine for decades, he is best known for his seminal 1938 book, Trout, which remains a definitive text on classic wet flies, streamers, and fly fishing techniques. To support his family and his writing, Bergman ran a mail-order tackle business out of his home in Nyack, New York.
He didn’t forge hooks himself; instead, he contracted with top-tier hook makers in England (likely established firms in Redditch or Sheffield, such as Partridge or Allcock) to manufacture hooks from “finest quality Sheffield Steel” under his own “Nyack” brand label. These specific “Medium Long” hooks were sold to discerning fly tiers specifically for crafting the bucktails and streamers that Bergman heavily promoted in his writings.
Fun Fact: Ray Bergman’s book Trout featured stunning color plates of flies painted by Dr. Edgar Burke. Many modern classic fly tiers specifically hunt for original Bergman Nyack hooks to create historically accurate, exhibition-grade reproductions of the patterns featured in those famous plates!
4. Usage & Equivalents
- Best Used For: Classic bucktails, traditional feather-wing streamers (like the Black Ghost or Mickey Finn), and large stonefly nymphs.
- Modern Equivalent: Mustad 9672 (3x Long) or Tiemco TMC 5263.
5. Technical Description
A classic bronzed streamer hook featuring a standard turned-down looped eye and a medium-long shank profile yielding a 3.66 length-to-gap ratio. The bend follows a traditional Sproat geometry, finishing in a standard-cut barb and a mechanically sharp point characteristic of mid-century English Sheffield steel manufacturing.
6. Collectability
Rating: 8/10
Boxes of Ray Bergman’s Nyack hooks are highly collectible. While vintage Mustad or VMC hooks are relatively common, hooks branded directly by legendary angling authors are incredibly prized by fly fishing historians and classic fly tying enthusiasts. Finding a box with its original blue paper label intact, especially containing its original, unrusted hooks, is becoming quite rare. They are highly sought after by exhibition tiers who want “period-correct” materials.