Close menu. Like with the rules of physics, fly fishing hook size is based off of a ton of different features that truly determine the âsizeâ of your hook, and when you change your thinking on fly fishing hook size, you can hook and land way more fish. Remember this…fly fishing hook size is not a number on the package. Before you read further, take the little test below in the photo. For this reason, you want a hook shank-to-gap ratio that is more equal. This system is really not reliable at all, however, and the system for designating fly fishing hook size has been in constant change over the centuries. When all is said and done donât forget that fly fishing and fly fishing hook size isnât physics. Technology means tight line! Hook sizes that are used for flies range from less than 1/8 of an inch in length for the smallest to 3 inches for the largest. When you think about hook size, you may think of shank length more than anything. by JUSTIN HANSON | ANADROMOUS, COLD WATER, SALT WATER, STILLWATER, WARM WATER. For example, a #8 hook can be #8 2x long, 3x short, 4x long. Your email address will not be published. Small (3/16") 4, 6, 8. The practicality of this should be somewhat obvious. WE JUST MET, BUT WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU ALL OF OUR ARTICLES, VIDEOS, PODCASTS, EBOOKS, AND EXTRAS FOR FREE! 3) The thicker the hook, all things being equal, the more pressure you can put on a fish when playing it. You still have variance in the hook gap though. $4.00 Barbless Dry Fly … There are also dozens of hook bend styles. Sometime you'll here anglers referring to natural insects and other invertebrates with hook sizes. Size A was also once a common fly tying thread; it was very thick, suitable for making very large streamers and … Large (1/4") 1, 2, 4. Our selection of barbless fishing hooks comes from leading manufacturers including TCM, Kona, AHREX, Firehole Sticks, Fulling Mill and ore. We carry various styles of barbless fly fishing hooks, such as nymph fly hooks, jig hooks, dry fly fishing hooks … Medium (7/32") 2, 4, 6. Orvis. DRY FLY. The huge amount of variables with fly fishing hook size give you this freedom and you should become familiar with what these variables are. Putting aside this brand variance, the x system means that you can literally have a #6 6x hook that can be used to tie a fly as equally as big as a #8/0 big game hook. Itâs better to find the right ratio than it is to buy a hook that says a certain hook size number on the package. Fly Hooks. Sizes. There are ten steps in between these two hooks (6, 4, 2, 1, 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 5/0, 6/0, 7/0, 8/0), but the fly would be the exact same size if measured with a ruler, i.e., the shanks are nearly equal in size. Use the above chart as a guideline as it will vary with style of hook. A few customers asked me to include information on bead to hook sizing. You need to work with the shank and gap size to come up with the hook that you need. This same hook will also have difficulty keeping fish hooked because the long shank allows the hook to act as a lever inside of the fishâs mouth. When itâs all said and done, fly fishing hook size comes down to the specifics of a given hook and brand. Pretty sexy stuff! Well, maybe that’s just me thinking. Most fly anglers’ exposure to fly fishing hooks size is when they learn a certain fly fishing hook size that is most effective for catching certain fish species. I will be adding more hook styles in the future. From size 1/0 hook sizes go from 1 and increase in number so a size 10 hook is much larger than a size 20 hook and a size 32 hook is smallest of them all, and yes fly … A lot of good information on hooks. Wapsi Fly currently offers Ultra Wire in five sizes: Large (26 gauge) (0.0180") Medium (28 gauge) (0.0126") Brassie (32 gauge) (0.0080") Small (34 gauge) (0.0063") Extra-small (38 gauge) (0.0040") … If you use a size 4/0, but the fly is balanced well with a great hook, then all the better. More information. For starters, also, we would suggest hook … If a guide tells you that you need size 2/0 tarpon flies for your trip, you should ask him how long the fly should be. The present system is reliable to a certain extent, for example, a #12 hook will almost always be âlargerâ than a #22. Now, the larger the size, the larger the hook. However, this changes when you move past 1. This system gives you the puny 32 to the shark-sized 20/0. Use Hook Size. Use the above chart as a guideline as it will vary with style of hook. NI general, hook thickness is very important. Wider gape hooks, in general, will fit a larger size range for each bead size. Tiemco. YZD Fly Tying Hooks (120/60 Pk) Dry Wet Nymph Streamer Fly Hook Round Bend Barbless jig Hook Competition Fishing Hook for Trout Salmon Fishing Hooks 4.4 out of 5 stars 30 $9.99 $ 9 . H-100-BL-10. The primary reason you need to do this is because the ratio of these two can make a huge difference in hooking and landing fish. The shank of the hook allows you to create longer and more substantial flies by tying the materials over the available room on the hook. Mustad 94840 20. He learned one or two rules about physics and thought he really understood everything there is to know about physics. This is one of the great sources of discussion among fly tyers and also a source of great confusion for new folks. STYLE. No fish is going to be checking to see if your fly is a 3/0 or a 1/0, so you shouldnât either. With modern fly tying hooks, there is really no universal standard hook size to begin with. Russian River Signature Fly Hook - 5X Strong. DAIICHI. H-100-BL-16. A hook with a long shank and a small gap will probably have difficulty hooking fish because the materials will obstruct the hook point. Whether you have small dries, large streamers, a variety of nymphs, or egg patterns on your vise and in your fly box, our freshly updated, premium quality lineup fly tying hooks … I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit overly obsessive about my hooks. … Narrower gape hooks will fit a small range of sizes for each bead size. … First, let’s cover some of the different terminology you’ll hear about âWhat size of flies do you need?â⦔oh, size 8.” In many cases, this works just fine, but in others it is downright useless. The smaller needle penetrates much more easilyâand painlessly. For example, we can’t start with a hook that is a size #10 and that is 10mm long, because not all brands have the same #10 designation. $5.49 + Saltwater Shrimp Signature Fly Hook … FLY TYING FLY TYING TOOLS BEADS AND WEIGHTS HOOKS Tags dry fly; fish; flies; fly fishing; fly tying; hooks; Risen Fly; ... Barbless Jig Fly hook - 9230. They range from the minute 32 to the large 1. Once you understand what these are saying, you don’t have to worry about these numbers anymore, as long as the overall proportions are correct for the natural that you are trying to imitate, for example. Our fly hook selection features hooks for dry flies, nymphs, streamers, poppers, jigs and big game fly … I have made the following fly tying bead hook chart to assist. The problem is that hooks can come in various shank lengths even with the same number designation. However, to make matters worse, the “original” “normal” hook shank length varies slightly from brand to brand. The best way to figure out if a hook is perfect for your fly is to gain experience yourself by examining various hooks. 1) The smaller the diameter, the easier a hook penetrates and thus goes into the fishâs mouth. However, pay attention to all of the descriptions on the package. For example, a #10 1x long hook, has a shank that is approximately the size of a #8 “normal” hooks. And here's an important fact about fly tying hooks. For decades, the diameter of fly tying thread was listed in “aught” sizes: 8/0, 6/0, and 3/0. STANDARD WIRE, DOWN EYE, 1X LONG. Then he learned ten more rules and understood that all of those rules affect the first rules he had learned. GUESS THE SIZE OF THESE HOOKS BASED OFF OF THE NUMBER ON THE PACKAGE. $9.99 Flat Rate to Canada. Once you have that general size and proportion, you can feel free to play around with the features of the hook that determine fly fishing hook size. The best place to start tying a salmon or steelhead fly is to choose one of the most basic hook styles; for this purpose we should suggest starting with a TMC 700, TMC 7999, Gamakatsu T10-6H, Daiichi 2441, or Daiichi 2412, or Alec Jackson Steelhead Irons. Thanks. MFC. These can make a difference in the actual hook size but often contribute more in other areas such as hook penetration. Think outside the box and donât be restricted by a number. The gap size of fly fishing hooks acts as an equalizer of sorts. Wider gape hooks, in general, will fit a larger size range for each bead size. This variance is usually marked off by âextra wide gapâ or âwide gapâ on the packages of the hooks you are buying. Find this Pin and more on Fly tying by bobpluta. Details in most things make the difference between good anglers and anglers who probably donât land or hook a lot of fish. The x system also applies to hook thickness as well, for example, 2x heavy/thick. description current model # strength/length/other mustad tmc daiichidai-riki c51s bln std / 1xl discontinued c52s bln std / 2xl c52s bln 8089 2720, 2722 ck52s std / 2xl ck52s … When I started tying flies, I used to guess which bead to use. H-100-BL-14. Brass & Tungsten Cones Cone Size Use Hook Size X-Small (5/32") 6 - 8 - 10 Small (3/16") 4 - 6 - 8 Medium (7/32") 2 - 4 - 6 Large (1/4") 1 - 2 - 4 Brass & Tungsten Beads Bead Size Use Hook … Itâs much more important! If you find a hook that is a 2/0 that is the perfect hook for flies normally tied as #4s, then use it if it’s right. Fly tying is the process of producing an artificial fly used by fly fishing anglers to catch fish. Use the hook that gives you the most advantages while maintaining the proper proportion for the natural food source and situation youâre fishing. If you are fishing in shallow water, you donât usually want a fly that sinks like a rock unless you are presenting the fly from the bottom. HOOK CONVERSION TABLES DRY FLY HOOKS Hook Description Daiichi Avalon Mustad Orvis Eagle Claw Partridge Tiemco Wide Gape Down Eye 1100 NA 80000BR 4864 NA NA 100 Wide Gape … Fishing Hook Size Chart - Janns Netcraft offers an accurate sizing chart for fishing tackle. The best example is a mosquito or a tickâs proboscis, which you most often canât feel when it penetrates your skin. Sizes . Most basic flies are tied on 2X long hooks although there are many exceptions. Model. With modern fly tying hooks, there is really no universal standard hook … DAI-RIKI. The numbers on fishing hook packages, used to designate fly fishing hook size, can at times be useful once you become familiar with most of the styles and brands of hooks, but you should not pay much attention to them if you want to choose the best hook for the job. You get a general knowledge of hook size when youâve seen dozens of them. Fly tying hook conversion chart More. Our most productive, effective and creative fly tying customers have learned to branch out and use fly tying hooks … If you care about catching fish, then you should abandon the idea of hook size (as designated by a number) as a way to choose your hook for fly pattern. As these size charts show Hooks start in Augt or /0 sizes with a 5/0 larger than a 3/0, the larger the number in front of the slash "/" then the larger the hook. Most people understand fly fishing hook size through years of fly fishing experience. The following are hook … LEFT HOOK = #2/0. You learn quickly that the smallest flies have a bigger number and that the biggest ones have a small number. The length of the hook is designated as 1X, 2X, 3X, etc, indicating that the hook shank is 1, 2, or 3 times the length of the gap. With all the manufacturers and styles of Fly Tying hooks, it can get confusing when you need to substitute one manufacturer for another. There is more at play with hook penetration than the diameter of your hook, but this is a huge factor nonetheless. Here are the results of my testing. $2.49 Flat Rate Shipping in USA for all orders. There are three main reasons to pay attention to hook thickness. I have made the following fly tying bead hook chart to assist. Also, keep an eye on more store as I will be selling hooks real soon! This system is really not reliable at all, however, and the system for designating fly fishing hook size has been in constant change over the centuries. flyfishing tips, tricks and tactics for ... Indiana Smallmouth flyfishing tips, tricks and fly … Sometimes the number will be fine with what you want, but at times, it will be nowhere near. This will help you to become familiar with general sizes. Then I purchased fly tying books that included pattern sheets with … They are close, but they are not exact. H-100-BL-12. MUSTAD signature. Mustad Signature Fly Hooks are developed by the world's top fly tiers and fly fishermen to give you the sharpest and strongest hooks with exact proportions. A chart of fly tying bead and cone head sizes to use with fly tying hook sizes. U001 #08-24 Kamasan. H-100-BL-18. I will be adding more styles in the future. Shop Allen for all your fly-fishing gear! THE MOSQUITO HOOK HAS A GREAT SHANK TO GAP RATIO. The x system normally means that the hook is sized up one hook size (this is not universal). The proportion of the natural that you are trying to imitate usually determines how long of a shank you want. Hook thickness is technically a part of fly fishing hook size, although it isnât as noticeable when compared to shank and gap size. Hope fishing’s going well for you! 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