This hook was specifically designed to enhance the "oenatural appearance" of stonefly nymph fly patterns. In older fly tying recipes, tiers were often instructed to bend the hook shank of a typical 3X or 4X-long hook down, that way the final product exhibits a curved or bent body more closely resembling the actual nymphs which bend between the thorax and abdomen when they free swim. Manually bending a finished hook always compromises the metal and is not recommended. These hooks come pre-shaped for perfect looking imitations.