Which 10 hooks

[Skeeter41]

Been a lurker for almost a year now. Finally got a vise and started tying. I am going to order 10 packs of 100 hooks. So my question is.

Which 10 packs of hooks would you buy including sizes. I will by trying to tie nymphs and dry's.

[Normand]

try to figure out which patterns you want to tie, then buy the hooks for tying them. check out the pattern recipes and buy accordingly

[Darryl]

If you're tying nymphs and drys for trout, I would recommend the following:

1.) TMC 100 #14
2.) TMC 100 #16
3.) TMC 100 #18
4.) TMC 100 #20
5.) TMC 200R #12
6.) TMC 200R #14
7.) TMC 200R #16
8.) TMC 3761 #14
9.) TMC 3761 #16
10.) TMC 2488 #16

I gave the Tiemco model numbers because that's what I use and am familiar with, but most hook manufacturers offer very similar hooks and you can probably find the equivalent style hook from pretty much any company. Of course the sizes are just recommendations based upon common hatches around my location. Check a hatch chart for your area for sizes you should buy. I didn't include any hooks below size #20 since you said you were a new tyer and didn't mention anything about midges but once you progress in your skills I think you'll find it's not all that much difficult to tye the smaller flies and they are very effective.

Good luck! You've picked a wonderful hobby.

-Darryl

[ScottP]

Here's a good hook comparison chart:
http://stevenojai.tripod.com/hookchart.htm

Darryl has suggested some excellent hooks, Tiemcos are great. However, you pay for what you get. If you're just starting out, you may want to consider some that are a little less expensive but still good quality. I use Dai-Rikis and Mustad's older models which are still available on-line. Look at places like Hook and Hackle, Feather-Craft, EBay, etc and you'll find some deals.

Regards,
Scott

[JohnScott]

First of all, greetings and welcome to the BB from SE Idaho.

I use Dai-Riki almost exclusively. I'd recommend starting with :

320 standard dry fly - sizes 14 and 16
135 1X short scud - sizes 16 and 18
075 1X short nymph - sizes 12, 14 and 16
280 2X long hopper - sizes 8 and 10
700 4X long streamer - sizes 6 and 8

That's eleven - but I would also recommend buying boxes of 50 to start with so it's quite a bit less of an investment than you are thinking about.

If you buy smaller quantities on the go in, I would recommend another Dai-Riki hook that I really like -

125 2X short emerger - sizes 16 and 18

and suggest you might want to expand the range of sizes of the 320 and 135 hooks.

This collection of 600-800 hooks will last a long time and see you through just about every fly you might want to put in front of a trout.

John

[jimsnarocks]

Skeeter41, Welcome aboard from sunny California. If you've been lurking awhile you probably know how great this FAOL gig is.
The other fellas gave you good advice. Personally I started out buying packs of 25 hooks until I decided which hooks I liked. Now I buy in packs of 50. Jim

[Skeeter41]

Has anyone used the Saber hooks from the fly shack? I believe they are $70 dollars per 1000, plus a 10 dollar off code, so they come out to be 6 dollars per 100.

I was just going to buy 10-12 packs of these hooks to get started.

Everyone seems to like the Dai-Riki. Is there a good place to get these?

[Buddy Sanders]

Skeeter,

I'm useing what I believe to be the same hooks as the 'Sabers' you asked about.

I get mine elsewhere, but the price is comparable.

Great hooks. Good price. I've caught hundreds of trout and bass on them.

Deciding which particular hooks you'll need, however, will be up to you.

Buddy

[nyfisherman]

i get my dai-riki hook on e-bay

[peregrines]

If you?re just starting out I?d get 50 or 100 packs of a decent inexpensive hook. Saber Daiichi, Mustad Classic etc.

Dry fly 12-18 like a Mustad 94840 or equivalent. You?ll want to add smaller down the road but they might be a little tough to tie at first. . You can use these hooks for dry flies, emergers and wets too. A size 14 would be a great choice for some soft hackles (wet fly). A pretty easy tie, and a great searching pattern that?s easy to fish.

Nymph 2xl long sizes 12-18 for nymphs with and without bead heads like a Mustad 9671 or equivalent.

Streamer 3xl long sizes 8 and 12 like a Mustad 9672 or equivalent for woolly buggers, bucktails, muddlers, feather wing streamers and stonefly and big mayfly drake nymphs, and you can use these for grass hoppers with foam bodies.

As you get into it you'll want to add more specialized hooks, but these would be good basics and would cover a lot of bases.

Good luck tying and have fun!

mark