The Tiemco (TMC) 765SP is a premium streamer hook designed for fly tiers requiring an extra-long shank and superior penetration. Featuring a 5.5XL shank length and a 1.5 wide gape, this hook is ideal for creating long-profile baitfish imitations, Zonkers, and Muddlers. The hook utilizes Tiemco’s “Super Point” (SP) technology, a triangular cutting point and a Black Nickel finish for corrosion resistance and stealth. These hooks are distinct for their “Limerick” style bend, offering a classic aesthetic with modern Japanese manufacturing precision.
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TMC 765SP – Additional Info
1. Identification
- Brand: Tiemco (TMC) / Distributed by Umpqua Feather Merchants
- Model/Code: 765SP
- Size: 4 and 6 (as shown in the two images)
- Estimated Era: 1990s – 2000s (Based on the classic Green and Orange Umpqua “Feather Merchants” hang tag packaging style).
2. Technical Specifications
- Eye: Down Eye, Tapered Loop-Eye (The return wire is tapered for a cleaner head profile)
- Wire: Medium-Heavy Streamer Weight (Implied for streamers)
- Shank/Bend: 5.5XL (Extra Long) Shank, Limerick Bend
- Gap: 1.5 Wide Gape
- Finish: Black Nickel
- Point: TC Point (Tiemco Cut) / SP (Super Point – triangular cutting point)
3. Historical Context
The Tiemco 765SP is a specialized hook manufactured in Japan and distributed in the US by Umpqua Feather Merchants. The “SP” designation stands for “Super Point,” a proprietary technology featuring a triangular, cutting point designed to slice through tough jaw tissue rather than just puncturing it.
This model is notable for its extreme length (5.5XL), which is longer than the standard 3XL or 4XL streamer hooks (like the TMC 5263). The “Limerick” bend is a classic shape often found on traditional wet fly and streamer hooks, characterized by a sharper angle at the bend compared to a round “Sproat” bend. Tiemco is still in full operation and remains one of the premier hook manufacturers in the world.
- Fun Fact: The “SP” (Super Point) hooks feature ridges on the point that reduce friction during penetration. Because of these cutting edges, tiers are often advised not to sharpen these hooks with a file, as it can ruin the factory-honed cutting geometry.
4. Usage & Equivalents
- Best Used For: Long-bodied streamers, large Muddler Minnows, Zonkers, and Sculpin patterns where a long silhouette is required without adding the bulk of a tandem hook rig. The wide gape aids in hooking fish that strike bulky materials.
- Modern Equivalent: The TMC 765TC is the direct evolution/continuation (TC standing for Tiemco Cut). If looking for other brands, the Daiichi 2220 or Mustad R75 (formerly 9674) are roughly comparable, though the TMC 765SP is unique in its combination of 5.5XL length and the cutting point.
5. Collectability
- Ranking: 4/10
- Reasoning: These are not “collectible” in the antique sense (like Victorian blind-eye hooks). However, they are highly desirable “users.” Experienced fly tiers often seek out older packs of “SP” hooks because they believe the older Japanese steel and chemically sharpened points from this era were of exceptional quality. They are relatively easy to find in fly shop bargain bins or online auctions but are bought to be fished, not displayed.