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. 
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.
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…
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.
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…
Anyone out there with a lot of experience with them???[/quote]
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.
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.