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Ok, I am ready to acquire a broad range of hooks for tying (until know I was learning the ropes etc) but I am ready to start really tying and all I have is streamer hooks, some nymph hooks and size 14 2xl dry fly hooks (dont ask) I basically need a large range of dry fly hooks in different sizes and styles.
Whats the best way to get all of that in one shot?
Personally I find this difficult to answer.
I decide what fly I want to tie, and buy the necessary hooks.
Make a list of flies you fancy, and add to the list the necessary hook size and type for the fly.
Don't get too ambitious, a Scotsmans advice, it could get a wee bit expensive. :wink:
rawfish,
I would say the best way would be to come up with a list of what you want and then start shopping around or even email the list to a few shops and see what the total price would be and then make up your mind.
Hook and Hackle is a good place to buy Mustad hooks and usually at a discount.
What kind of hooks you'll need is really up to you as to what you want to tie.
Rawfish,
Find a suplier of Mustad hooks. Decide which particular hook you want to fish with.
A good start for most patterns would be:
94840 'standard' for dry flies (around $8.50/100).
3399 for wets/nymphs down to size 14 (around $4.60/100). For smaller nymphs/wets, the 3906 'standard' hook (around $8.50/100) (you can tie nymphs/wets on the 94840s, so you don't 'need' a nymph hook)
3191 Carlisle for streamers (around $3.75/100).
Or, if you prefer a shorter shank streamer hook:
The 3261 Aberdeen (around $3.75/100. I really like these for buggers and larger topwater stuff like hoppers and small poppers for bass/bluegills).
Eagle Claw makes versions of some of these hooks, their L060 wet/dry hook is a great all around hook for someplace in the neighborhood of $7.50/100.
You can 'bend' the dry fly and wet fly hooks easily into scud hooks, and the aberdeens into that curved nymph/hopper shank like the Tiemco 2312 or the Mustad 'signature' C53S.
Once you find a good 'source' for the hooks you want (lots of places out there, check the web or discuss it with your local fly shop-they will often order bulk hooks for you at a good price) you then need to decide the 'range' of sizes you want.
For most trout fishing, 10 to 22 in the dry fly hooks, 10 to 18 in the wets, and 4 to 10 in the streamer hooks. Bass or other applications might change how you 'range' the hook sizes and may add some other styles.
Order at least 100 of each size/style in the range you choose. If you 'know' that you will tie more in certain sizes (generally 12 to 18 for most of us), get more of those.
Once you have this 'base supply' you can just look at a patten, pick the hook that is close enough, and tie it without having to go to the store or wait for a catalog order.
What I can't get from my fly shop, I get from Jann's Netcraft, Cabela's, or from folks here at FAOL. I've seen some good hook deals on Ebay.
Good Luck!
Buddy
I went back and reread your post...you say "large range" and didn't really say whether or not you are going to do a large volume....if not ..though 100's cost less per hook... you may want to consider a lesser number.Quote:
Originally Posted by rawfish
I have seen Daiichi assortment packs at some online retailers. I think you get 10 each of the same style hook in 4 sizes. Comes in a little reusable box. I have limited experience with the brand, but the ones I have tried seem ok.
rawfish, I,like Donald,also had to read this question a few times to get where I think your going with this. I'm assuming that you are looking for a variety of say Mustad 94840 sizes 22 to 10 about 25 to a pack.
What struck me as I read the question over was where are you going to get and store all of the materials. That's when I thought that you meant variety not quantity. I have never seen a manufacturer that puts together a hook kit. Great idea though.
I sure hope that you aren't thinking of "going pro" now that you have "learned the ropes". If so I would recommend that you talk with some of the retired pro tyers that hangout here, there is a huge difference between tying 10 flys or tying 1000 flys or tying 10,000 flys and some of them would be happy to tell you about it. Send me an email when your ready to start selling off your supplies for 50% to 60% discount.
Good luck with this!!!
I think Cabela's offers an assortment of their house brand hooks. The catalog isn't handy right now but check their web site.
The cheapest place that I've found to buy hooks is Anglers Workshop. I bought a quantity ($100+) from js stockard because I had a coupon that evened out the difference and they are a regional supplier.
That being said, Anglers workshop has the best prices on hooks that I've found. Their shipping rates are higher than I like but they do have the best selection of hooks that I have found.
Rawfish;
Your question is impossible to answer. There are just too many styles and sizes out there. It has taken me 3 years to put togather a fairly adaquate supply.
As the others have said look at what you plan to tie and buy the hooks of that style from the biggest to the smallest used for the patterns.
I recently followed Jammie Caddick's advice and bought Mustad C49S(curved Caddis)hooks in size 8 to 22 for Klinkhammers(25 packs).
Most of my hooks come from H&H as Ron's deliveries are 2 to 3 days and I can buy a 100 pack for the cost of the gas to get to my nearest shop. If you watch your inventory closely H&H can be a real "Just In Time" supplier.
I don't know what to think about Targus hooks - but I am using quite a few and the few I have fished I have not had any trouble with hookups or breakage. That said, The Fly Shop in California has turned the Targus hooks into their store brand - and they're selling them really cheap - like 2 something for 25. Might be something you should look at.
You know that's a good observation...I too have seen some good prices on them but was [am] a little afraid to go there....Quote:
Originally Posted by herefishy
Anyone out there with a lot of experience with them????
I spent some time today just 'browsing' around on Ebay.
It was pretty amazing what you can get in the way of hooks and for good prices (I didn't pay much attention to the 'auctions' but the stuff that's 'buy it now' form the many 'ebay stores')
Lots of variety, lots of good values.
Still prefer to get mine for the fly shop, but if I needed a 'lot' of hooks, it would be tempting. I'd think that you could e-mail or call one of these suppliers and get a pretty decent deal on a large purchase.
Just a thought.
Buddy
Don't know how many hooks you are looking to buy in one size at a time but Bailey's has two hook assortments. One Nymph hooks the other dry fly hooks. Ten hook per size three styles in a box in 4 sizes per style. Price is $14.95 per assortment. If you don't want a large supply of a size then this may be the way for you to go. Ron
raw:
Everybody has a brand preference and you need to find yours so I won't go there BUT...
When you say "different" styles of dry fly hook; I recommend that you think about sticking with a regular length shank dry fly hook like Mustad 94840, Daiichi 1180, or TMC 100; before you branch out into different styles.
When I first started tying I thought I needed whatever hook the recipe called for in as many sizes as I thought I would encounter. Later I realized I could get by with one style for 90% of my dries. The other 10% was only needed when I wanted a curved hook shank or a smaller size that wasn't available in my regular style.
BTW, for years I just bent the straight hook shank when I wanted a curve so you could do that too.
Good luck in the search. When you choose a brand I'm sure folks here could point you in the direction of good sources.
Targus hooks are made in the Tiemco factory, and they use the Tiemco numbering system to boot!. I have been using them for almost 2 years, and cannot find fault with them. Also, 1/2 the price of Tiemco! Biggest problem is availability for my local fly shop to restock when he runs out. I buy them from whomever I can get them from when they are available.Quote:
Originally Posted by ducksterman
Joe
Not too long ago, I tried to amass a large selection of hooks by buying assortments on EBay. I cannot recommend this method. Many times, the hooks were not Fly hooks, as listed, but general fishing hooks. Many times, they were rusted, or just plain wrong. Of course, there are ways to deal with these problems, but it is a hassle. Stay away from EBay for hooks. The few good listings are buried by the bad ones.
My recommendation is to make a list of the flies you want to tie and order the proper hooks in lots of 50 or 100 in the major sizes you want to tie. I use Cabelas and Hook and Hackle. As you expand your patterns, you will expand your hook inventory.
Good Luck,
Gig
Rawfish;
Gig said it the best.
A site that I have been made aware of is http://www.thefishguy.net/ it was down today, but up last week.
Wow, thank you everyone for the overwhelming response to what I though would be a little question.
BTW for those who questioned if I was going commercial, see my other post where I discuss not understanding parachute posts :oops: I am still a "newbie".
Just having fun...
Jann's netcraft has Tiemco assortments of 60 hooks with a storage box for $13. Another option for you.
I have also found boxes of 50 Mustads at a local sporting goods chain (sportsman's warehouse) for around $3.50. That is where I've done most of my hook purchasing lately.
Be carefull buying fly tying materials on eBay from and experienced buyer: you cant see what your being shipped and usually the return postage if its not what you thought you saw is higher than driving down the road to a fish store. I have bought lots of stuff off eBay and found that a lot of it was not worth spending the time to fill out the paypal info. Do yourself a favor and listen to the advise these guys are giving you, or you'll end up buying a bunch of stuff you learn later isnt what you want to tie with. :D
always check feedback on Ebay. Make sure the pic is clear and you can see what your getting. If buying hooks get the # of the box in the pic to make sure it is a fly tying hook. Don't Buy from new sellers, or ones that have changed their user ID. I make sure i do this and have not had a proble yet
Take Care
WWFF
The site was down for a bit, but is now up. www.thefisguy.com Hope this helps
He's down again. I know his site, great prices!
The Fly Shop brand of hooks are not rebadged Targus hooks.Quote:
Originally Posted by herefishy
Will provide a link later
Anyone know who makes the hooks for The Fly Shop?
Rawfish,
If you're like most of us you'll probably want to get all of everything eventually, but since you're interested in building up an inventory of hooks in a range of sizes, you want to keep initial costs down. I suggest you consider buying the Mustad 94840 standard dry fly hook in 100 packs of the sizes you're looking to tie (maybe 12,14,16 and 18 ?) use them for:
dries (primary use)
emergers (primary use) but also use them to satisfy your Jones for some:
soft hackles, and wets (the proportions will be off since the dry fly hooks will be longer than the 3906B, but you can size down-- if you want to tie a 14 size soft hackle, use a 16 dry fly hook)
flymphs and unweighted nymphs (
weighted nymphs with a couple of wraps of lead wire(or lead subsitute)
beadhead nymphs
If you want to keep proportions right, just remember to compare the size and shank length of the recommended hook for the nymph or wet to the shank length of the 94840 and size down or up accordingly.
Add a 100 pack of size 10 Mustad streamer hooks for:
hair, feather, marabou, and matuka streamers
zonkers
weighted and bullet head wooly buggers
muddlers
Stone fly nymphs
Grass hoppers (using foam or spun deer body hair to float the heavy hook)
As I remember, you're on LI, so if you plan on fishing the Connequot a lot you'll want to pinch your barbs down before you tie (so if you break a hook point it'll be on a bare hook, not one you've spent 3 hours tying).
And if you do plan on fishing the Conny, I would add a 25 pack of streamer hooks in size 6 for big ugly black zonkers and black marabou muddlers especially for the pond and beats 8 and 9.
Another way to keep initial costs down is to consider limiting your initial purchase of dry fly hackle and buy Coastal Deer Hair to tie compara duns and or sparkle duns (they don't use hackle). You can get a light, medium and dark patches for around $3 each and you'll probably get well over 100 flies from each patch). With a good color range of dubbing for bodies you can mix wing and body color to imitate all the 12-18 size mayflies. Recipes and detailed instructions are on the FAOL fly archive.
Since you seem to have been bitten pretty badly by the fly tying bug you may want to consider checking out some of the LI fly fishing organizations, if you haven't already like Long Island Fly Fishers and LI TU chapters (or the NYC TU if you work in the city). And there are a couple Salty Fly Rodders chapters on LI too, but that is a whole nuther set of hooks....
Good luck!
peregrines