Alec Jackson 2055 Gold Hook

Alec Jackson 2055 (The “Golden Child” Edition)

Ah, the pampered prince(ss) of the litter—identical guts to the 2051 and 2052 (light wire, leggy shank, swoopy bend, up-eye elegance), but plated in gold like it won the lottery and hired a stylist. This finish is all warmth and corrosion resistance, turning your spey into a sun-kissed siren that doesn’t fade after one rainy PNW weekend. Diffs? Versus the nickel 2052, it’s less “cool metallic” and more “expensive yacht party”—gold’s subtler in clear water, hides scratches better, and whispers “I’m fancy” without shouting. From the black 2051? It’s the glow-up nobody asked for but everybody low-key wants, especially if you’re tying for the ‘gram or a rainy-day swing where black vanishes like your fishing buddy’s promises. Overkill? Maybe, but when your fly’s battling barnacles, that gold holds up like a trust fund.

Best fly patterns? Again, spey royalty territory—channel your inner Victorian with full-dressed Atlantics like the Black Doctor or Jock Scott, or keep it steelhead-simple with low-water GPs and hairwing hybrids for Umpqua summer runs. The gold plating shines (literally) for clear, shallow scenarios where contrast is king; pair it with yellow-dyed feathers for a fly that looks like it was born with a silver spoon (wait, gold one). Ideal for those collectible salmon flies that sit in a shadow box more than a river, or practical Muddlers when you want the profile to warm up in the sun without turning invisible. Humor jab: This hook’s for when your fly needs to feel superior—steelhead’ll swim up thinking it’s treasure, only to get reeled in like they won the lottery (spoiler: you did). But if you’re budget-tying? Stick to black; gold’s just the hook equivalent of wearing sunglasses indoors.