I thought I asked this question before, but I can't find the answer. On what size hooks do you generally tie smallmouth flies?
Thanks,
Bruce
I thought I asked this question before, but I can't find the answer. On what size hooks do you generally tie smallmouth flies?
Thanks,
Bruce
Mostly #4. This is for clousers, crawdad patterns etc. Also some #6 in the same.
#2-#6 mostly for baitfish, crawdad, and leech flies, but I've caught decent smallies on #14 caddises as well. The trick is to have a good sized gap on your hook, otherwise it's harder to get a good hook-up on those bony jaws.
If it swims and eats, it'll eat a fly.
2-10.
Depends on the size fish I'm going after, and what I'm tying.
#10. That is the size I tie my buggers, and that is all I ever caught a smallie on, so...
They seemed to work just fine.
1/0 down to 10. majority of my smallie flys are 2-6
aa
US Veteran and concerned citizen
#4-10, with clousers in the 2-3x range If you're tying hairbugs, be sure the bottom is shaved close to the shank to give plenty of hook clearance.
Coughlin
Calling flyfishing a hobby is like calling brain surgery a job.
Paul Schullery
2/0 down to 6. The majority are probably tied on a 2 or 4.
Kevin
I use 1/0 up to 4. I have switched from classic streamer hooks to mustad 3366. A 1/0 mustad 3366 is about the same length as a size 4 standard streamer hook. So you can tie the same size fly with a much larger hook gap. This will improve your hook up rate and appears to reduce the number of deeply hooked fish. I now tend to use either a 1/0 or size 2 mustad 3366 for most of my smallie flies.
For Clousers and streamers, 4 - 6. I do carry some nymph patterns tied on #10 and # 12 size nymph hooks.
" If a man is truly blessed, he returns home from fishing to the best catch of his life." Christopher Armour