I don't bass fish with a fly rod, but I warm water fish and catch some bass in the process. My largest bass was around 5 1/2 lbs. caught on a 1/132 oz. jig with a number 10 hook. I have caught a few 7 - 9 lb. catfish and a couple of 7+ lb. grass carp, all on number 8 Aberdeen hooks. Remember a lot of the large hooks you see advertised for bass fishing are going to have a 3/8" plastic worm or a pork chunck inside the gap.