Your most used hook sizes?

[Redfin]

I am very low on almost all hooks. I need to buy… 🥴 waited to long now I need a bunch.

So I think instead of having tons of different sizes I want to just stream line what I’m doing.
So. If you could. What size hooks do you guys use for specific tasks, generally?
Say like give me your nymph, wet fly and dry fly sizes. I know there are all different bugs. But if you thought about it and had to narrow it down.
If you use a jig hook or a 2xl or what ever let me know that also Cause a 2xl 14 is different than a 14 scud hook that’s 2x short.
I have to buy all hooks except for streamer hooks.
Thanks a bunch! I appreciate it.

 

[ROVERT]

I've been using mostly Sabre hooks for the last couple of years and have no complaints.

I use:

7010 in 10-18 for dry flies.

7218 Klinkhammer in 10-18 for nymphs, soft hackles, and emergers.

7050 in 10-14 for dry flies. This is a 2x short hook. I'm tying the flies in size 14-18 and basically just using this hook to get a wider gape on stiffly hackled flies. For example, I'll use a size 12 hook for a size 16 dry fly.

My tiny flies (20-24) are tied on an old supply of Tiemco hooks that I have. I don't tie a lot of these.

I use Gamakatsu B10S in 2-6 for my streamers. I'm also using these for my cicadas.

 

[Bamboozle]

I did the streamline/downsize thing a long time ago went with the top brands at the time for my regular rotation flies. The brands & models I chose have served me extremely well and I won't even consider buying anything else regardless of recipe, price or hype...

Which is MY secret to STAYING streamlined. 😉

Based on where I fish most often, the insects I encounter, the flies I fish and excluding specialty & streamer hooks:

Dry Flies:

Tiemco 518 & 2488 - REALLY small stuff (Sizes 28 - 32)
Daiichi 1110 - The rest of the smaller flies (Sizes 20 - 26)
Daiichi 1180 - Everything else (Sizes 10 - 18)

Wet Flies:

Tiemco 3761 - Small mayfly nymphs (Size 20)
Daiichi 1560 - All other nymphs (Size 10 - 18)
Tiemco 2457 - Scuds (Size 10 - 18)

 

[rancid waders]

Fulling Mill barbless 18 to 10 right now.

 

[Redfin]

I've been using mostly Sabre hooks for the last couple of years and have no complaints.

I use:

7010 in 10-18 for dry flies.

7218 Klinkhammer in 10-18 for nymphs, soft hackles, and emergers.

7050 in 10-14 for dry flies. This is a 2x short hook. I'm tying the flies in size 14-18 and basically just using this hook to get a wider gape on stiffly hackled flies. For example, I'll use a size 12 hook for a size 16 dry fly.

My tiny flies (20-24) are tied on an old supply of Tiemco hooks that I have. I don't tie a lot of these.

I use Gamakatsu B10S in 2-6 for my streamers. I'm also using these for my cicadas.

The klinkhammer hooks. What is your thoughts or reasoning behind using those hooks for your ties?

 

[Redfin]

Fulling Mill barbless 18 to 10 right now.

I looked at those in barbless today. I really like the looks of the open wide gap on those. Look like they would hook and hold fish well.

 

[ROVERT]

The klinkhammer hooks. What is your thoughts or reasoning behind using those hooks for your ties?

I bought some to use Klinkhammers/emergers and found that I like them for nymphs and soft hackles as well. I don't fish nymphs enough to warrant stocking nymph specific hooks.

 

[tomgamber]

I search ebay and have done fine

 

[nymphingmaniac]

I am very low on almost all hooks. I need to buy… 🥴 waited to long now I need a bunch.

So I think instead of having tons of different sizes I want to just stream line what I’m doing.
So. If you could. What size hooks do you guys use for specific tasks, generally?
Say like give me your nymph, wet fly and dry fly sizes. I know there are all different bugs. But if you thought about it and had to narrow it down.
If you use a jig hook or a 2xl or what ever let me know that also Cause a 2xl 14 is different than a 14 scud hook that’s 2x short.
I have to buy all hooks except for streamer hooks.
Thanks a bunch! I appreciate it.

I think it was Charlie Meck who said he ties everything on (Mustad at the time) dry fly hooks, which were 1X long and size the hook based on how big he wanted the fly.

I can't respond effectively. I have too many hooks.
but if I had to the ones I use the most are
dry fly hooks sz 14-18
fine wire scud sz 14-22
Nymphs 2Xl sz 12-18
wets 1XL sz 14-18
streamers 3X 6-10

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear redfin,

Mustad 3366 size 2/0 to 12.

I tie warmwater flies most of all. I'm still working on using Mustad 3906B's 9671's, 9672's and 98480's I bought in bulk over 30 years ago when they were less than $2.00 a hundred. I'm covered for my lifetime for trout hooks.

Just want to add knock-off Tiemco 200R's for Clouser Foxee minnows and other trout streamers in size 4 to 10.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[dryflyguy]

dry fly -
#14 most used, with #16 close behind.
As for brand -
I go through lots of them each year, and get what ever is a good buy
There are lots of quality hooks available now, from many brand names.
Several posters on this site sell non major brand hooks, that are of nice quality IMO

 

[JimNovo]

If I had to choose one size....

For nymphs I'd pick a size 14 standard hook and a size 16 curved hook.

For dries I'd pick a size 16 standard hook for duns/spinners and a size 18 Klinkhammer hook for emergers.

For terrestrials/worms maybe a size 12 2xl.

That should do pretty well until the Dorothea's and tiny olives appear. Then I'll just sit and cry!

 

[Jay_H]

My most used sizes are by far 14 and 16. In all varieties - dry, nymph, jig, and scud.

 

[caddisflyer]

16 and 18 Mustad dry fly hooks. Also like Orvis tactical hooks.

 

[Trapshooter]

Dry fly hooks 14-18
Scud 14-20
Nymphs 12-18
Jig 12-16
I use all popular brands. I try to buy barbless whenever possible. Barbless can be hard to find some days. I crush the barbs otherwise.

 

[poopdeck]

Trout are easy. Generally speaking, basic 14 and 16 for drys, 14’s for nymphs. 8 to 12 for streamers. It’s really doesn’t have to be rocket science. WW fish are another thing all together and will go 12 to 4/0 but since I’ve always been a hook minimalist I’m able to keep them to just a few types.

 

[Sylvaneous]

Trout are easy. Generally speaking, basic 14 and 16 for drys, 14’s for nymphs. 8 to 12 for streamers. It’s really doesn’t have to be rocket science. WW fish are another thing all together and will go 12 to 4/0 but since I’ve always been a hook minimalist I’m able to keep them to just a few types.

16

 

[EchoRidgeElder]

For me, I would say size 14 followed closely by 16 for just about everything. I have a very hard time tying on anything smaller! Just can't see as well as I once was able to to!!