Fly Hook Designs
1. Dry Fly Hooks
Standard Dry Fly Hook
The standard dry fly hook is made of 1X fine wire to create a light weight design that enables dry flies to float higher. The standard dry fly hook also comes with a down eye, wide gape and a forged bronze finish. Sizes usually run from as small as #28 all the way up to #8. This hook is used for tying most standard dry fly dun and parachute patterns. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC100, Daiichi- 1100, Mustad Signature- R-30, Mustad- 94840 Orvis- 1523, Dai-Riki-305
Straight Eye Dry Fly Hook
A straight eye dry fly hook is often used for tying no-hackle patterns, CDC dry flies, midge duns, some emergers and full palmered hackle body patterns like the Griffith’s Gnat. For the most part, the straight eye keeps the shank of the hook positioned parallel to the tippet for a straight and level presentation to the water. As with the standard dry fly hook, it is made of 1X fine wire for high floating with a wide gape and a forged bronze finish. Almost as broad in sizes as the Standard Dry Fly Hook straight eye dry fly hook sizes run from as small as #26 to as large as size #10. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC101, Daiichi- 1110, Orvis- 4641, Dai-Riki- 310
Black Finish Dry Fly Hook
This is the exact same hook as a standard dry fly hook only with a black finish. It is made of 1X fine wire to create a light weight design with a down eye and wide gape. Sizes usually run from as small as #21 all the way up to #11. This hook is used for tying most standard dry fly dun and parachute patterns. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC102Y
Humped Shank 2X Long Dry Fly Hook
This dry fly hook is designed with an extra long shank that is curved outboard to create a slight hump in the back. It is made for tying extended body dry fly patterns that imitate; hoppers, stoneflies, some caddisflies and terrestrials. This hook has a straight eye and is made of 1X fine wire that is 2 X long with a forged bronze finish. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #16 to as large as #6. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC2312, Daiichi- 1260
Straight Shank 2X Long Dry Fly Hook
This dry fly hook is designed with an extra long straight shank for tying extended body dry fly patterns that imitate; hoppers, stoneflies, some caddisflies and terrestrials. This hook has a down eye and is made of 1X fine wire and 2 X long with a forged bronze finish. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #16 to as large as #6. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC5212, Daiichi- 1280, Orvis- 1638
Short Shank Dry Fly Hook
Short shank dry fly hooks are primarily designed for tying Thorax and Parachute patterns. Short shank hooks are made of 1X fine wire for high floating and 2X short to accommodate the shorter body requirements of some thorax and parachute patterns. This hook comes with a down eye and forged bronze finish. Hook sizes run form as small as #18 and as large as # 8. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC921, Mustad Signature- R48
Micro Dry Fly Hook
These are specialized miniature hooks designed for tying the smallest midge and trico patterns. They are made with a straight eye and 3X fine wire with a micro barb and forged bronze finish. This hook has a short shank and a wide gape that is variable by bending it open or closed in the tying vise. It is made available in the smallest sizes made of #32, #30 and #28. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC518
Standard Barbless Dry Fly Hook
There are some rivers or streams, stretches of rivers or streams and even designated areas of geography that are classified for barbless hook fishing only. There are many anglers who choose among themselves to fish barbless hooks only as a matter of promoting healthy catch and release practices. It is for these situations that barbless hooks are manufactured. Barbless dry fly hooks come many popular designs of barbed dry fly hooks. The standard barbless dry fly hook copies the barbed version with a down eye, 1X fine wire construction, wide gape and a bronze finish. Hook sizes range from as small as #22 to as large as #10. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC100BL, Daiichi- 1190, Orvis- 1877
2. Wet/Dry Hooks
1X Heavy Dry/Wet Fly Hook
Most wet fly patterns require a heavier wire hook than a dry fly so that the added weight can help sink the fly. Some dry fly patterns however do use a heavier hook to help anchor a thick spun deer hair body like the Goddard Caddis or Irresistible so that they float upright. Still other dry fly patterns like the Wulff or Humpy just have heavy wings and bodies that also need a heavier hook to float better. This hook design uses 1 X Heavy wire construction with all the same other features of a standard dry fly hook; down eye, wide gape and forged bronze finish. Hook sizes range from as small as #18 to as large as #8. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC9300, Daiichi- 1550, Mustad Signature- R50, Mustad- 94840, Dai-Riki- 070
Humped Shank 2X Long Nymph/Dry Fly Hook
This fly hook is designed with an extra long shank that is curved outboard to create a slight hump in the back. It is designed for tying long body dry fly patterns that imitate; hoppers, stoneflies, some caddisflies and terrestrials as well as Stonefly and Caddis nymphs. This hook is made with standard wire with a down eye and is and 2 X long with a forged bronze finish. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #16 to as large as #6. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC2302, Dai-Riki- 280
York Bend 3X Long Nymph/Dry Hook
This hook has a semi dropped point that is created by the sloping bend that opens up the gape and drops the point below the standard. This design increases hooking potential greatly making it a good choice when a 3X long hook is needed. The sloping bend creates an elongated arch to the back of the hook which is advantageous for many nymph patterns. As a dry fly hook it can be a good choice for extended body stone and salmon fly patterns. It is designed with a straight eye, standard wire, 3X long semi-dropped point forged bronze. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #22 to as large as #4. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC200R, Mustad Signature- C53S, Orvis- 1510
3. Wet/Nymph/Streamer Hooks
Standard Wet/Nymph Hook
The standard nymph hook is somewhat of a misnomer in that it really requires many different hook designs to properly tie the numerous styles of nymph fly patterns. This standard nymph design is made of 2X heavy wire for adding weight to the fly, a sprout bend, down eye and a forged bronze finish. This is the hook design your grandfather tied wet flies and nymphs on many moons ago and it is still used as the standard hook for many patterns today. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #18 to as large as #6. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC3769, Mustad Signature- R70, Mustad- 3906, Dai-Riki- 075
1X Long Wet/Nymph Hook
This design is also made of 2X heavy wire with a sprout bend, down eye and forged bronze finish as the standard nymph. It is however 1X long to accommodate long body nymph and wet fly designs. The straight shank does limit this hook slightly for use in some of the more creative fly patterns that require a curved body but there are still plenty of patterns that use this hook as a standard. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #20 to as large as #6. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC3761, Daiichi- 1560, Mustad- 3906B, Dai-Riki- 730
2X Long Nymph/Streamer Hook
This design is also made of 2X heavy wire with a perfect bend, down eye and forged bronze finish as the standard nymph. It is however 2X long to accommodate tying extra long body nymph and streamer patterns. This hook has a straight shank that is required in most streamer and wooly bugger patterns The hook sizes usually run from as small as # 18 to as large as #4. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC5262, Daiichi- 1710, Mustad Signature- R72, Mustad- 9671, Dai-Riki- 700
3X Long Nymph/Streamer Hook
This design is also made of 2X heavy wire with a perfect bend, down eye and forged bronze finish as the standard nymph. It is however 3X long to accommodate tying extra long body nymph and streamer patterns. This design has a perfect bend a common component of streamer hook design for over 50 years. This hook has a straight shank that is required in most streamer and wooly bugger patterns The hook sizes usually run from as small as #14 to as large as #2. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC5263, Daiichi- 1720, Orvis- 1526, Mustad- 9672, Dai-Riki- 710
4X Long Nymph/Streamer Hook
This design is also made of 2X heavy wire with a perfect bend, down eye and forged bronze finish as the standard nymph. It is however 4X long to accommodate tying extra long body streamer patterns. This design has a perfect bend a common component of streamer hook design for over 50 years. This hook has a straight shank that is required in most streamer and wooly bugger patterns The hook sizes usually run from as small as #10 to as large as #2. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Mustad Signature- R74, Mustad- 79580, Daiichi- 2220, and Orvis- 8808
6X Long Streamer Hook
This design is also made of 2X heavy wire with a perfect bend, down eye and forged bronze finish however it is 6X long to accommodate tying the largest of streamer patterns. This design has a perfect bend a common component of streamer hook design for over 50 years. This hook has a straight shank that is required in most streamer and wooly bugger patterns The hook sizes usually run from as small as #12 to as large as #2. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC300, Daiichi- 2340
4. Caddis Pupa/Scud Hooks
Fine Wire Pupa/Scud Hook
This hook is made of 1X fine wire that is 2 X short and has a 2X wide gape with a down eye and a forged bronze finish. The fine wire construction makes it a good choice for many emerger patterns which is why you will find it all the way down to a size # 24. This hook also has a slightly humped shank that is a common requirement in so many scud and shrimp patterns. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #24 to as large as #10. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC2487, Dai-Riki- 125
Heavy Wire Pupa/Scud Hook
This hook is made of 1X heavy wire that is 2 X short and has a 2X wide gape with a down eye and a forged bronze finish. The heavy wire construction makes it a good choice for many caddis pupa, scud and shrimp patterns to give the fly the extra weight to fish deep. This hook also has a humped shank that is a necessary requirement in so many scud and shrimp patterns. This hook is also a perfect choice for tying egg patterns. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #18 to as large as #6. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC2457, Mustad Signature- CO68, Daiichi- 1150, Dai-Riki- 135
5. Specialty Hooks
Egg Fly/Glow Bug Hook:
The perfect combination of elements for a good egg hook is a design that is basically short, stout and wide. These specialty hooks are 2X strong, 3-5X short with a straight eye, reversed bend and a forged bronze finish. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #10 to as large as #4. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC105, Daiichi-X510, Mustad- 9174, Mustad Signature- C67S
Bass Bug Hook
These hooks are designed with very wide gapes for better hooking percentages on fish with large mouths like bass and northern pike. Additionally the wide gapes need to compensate for the underbelly depth of many spun deer hair bass bugs. This hook has a straight eye, and is made with fine wire and an extra wide gape and a forged bronze finish. Not recommended for saltwater use. . The hook sizes usually run from as small as #12 to as large as #2. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC8089, Daiichi- 2722, Mustad- 37187
6. Salmon/Steelhead Hooks
Dry Fly Hook
This traditional Salmon/Steelhead hooks has the classic up-turned tapered loop eye and limerick bend made of light wire and forged black. The light wire construction is to aid in the floating process adding as little weight to the hook as possible. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #8 to as large as #2. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC7989
Wet Fly/Streamer Hook
This traditional Salmon/Steelhead hooks has the classic up-turned tapered loop eye and limerick made of heavy wire and forged black. This is the style of hook often used for spey fly patterns as well as many feather and hair wing conversion Salmon/Steelhead patterns. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #12 to as large as #2/0. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC7999, Daiichi- 2161, Mustad- 36890, Mustad Signature- SL53UL, Partridge- CS10/1
Double Hook
`With the double hook design the eye is formed as an extension of the hook wire and as such is extremely strong and durable. In this classic design we have an up-eye design and a limerick bend with a forged black finish. This is truly the classic Atlantic Salmon wet fly pattern hook found so often in use in Iceland and Great Brittan. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #10 to as large as #4. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC707DS, Mustad- 80525BL
7. Saltwater Hooks
Standard Stainless Saltwater Hook
This is the standard bonefish shrimp/crab pattern hook that is made of stainless steel with a straight eye, standard length and 1X strong. Probably one of the most commonly used hooks for tying saltwater fly patterns. Even though it is made extra strong it is still classified as light as compared to the heavy stainless hooks. In larger sizes this hook can be used for Tarpon patterns as well as for all purpose saltwater use. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #8 to as large as #4/0. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC811S, Mustad- 34007, Mustad Signature- 571S-SS, Daiichi- 2546, and Partridge- CS52 (Sea Prince)
Heavy Stainless Saltwater Hook
This is the heavy bonefish shrimp/crab pattern hook that is made of stainless steel with a straight eye, standard length, semi-dropped point and 2X strong. This is an excellent hook for tying permit crab patterns for the added weight that the heavy hook provides. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #8 to as large as #2. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC800S, Mustad- 34007, Mustad Signature- C68S-SS, and Dai-Riki- 930
Short Shank Black Nickel Big Game Hook
This is the new generation of saltwater fly hook that was sparked by the introduction of the Owner AKI hook to Saltwater fly tiers. This hook is made 3X heavy, 2X short, 3X wide gape and an extra large eye to better accommodate large shock tippets. The hook point is curved in to promote better hook-up percentages. The hook is coated with a corrosion resistant black nickel finish for a more stealth presentation to the fish. This is a superb tarpon hook design. The hook sizes usually run from as small as #2 to as large as #8/0. Major branded part numbers are as follows: Tiemco- TMC600SP, Mustad- 10841NPBLN and Owner- AKI