My question here is really aimed at trout flies. Mainly nymphs, drys etc. Not really streamers or bass flies.
Do you all use a single brand of hooks? Or use whatever it available?
When I started tying, I bought Daiichi hooks for my dries and my nymphs. I have dry fly hooks from 12-26, nymph hooks from 20-12, 2x long nymph (bead head) hooks from 18-14. The local shop that I bought from is closed. The other shop carries mainly TMC in trout sizes. If I need a size 16 scud hook, I could go get a TMC 2457 #16 and put them in my hook bin and life goes on. Over time I would slowly replace the Daiichi with TMC.
I am not asking which brand is better and don’t want to start that discussion. I want to know if you use all the same brand, or if you dont think it matters and you may have a mixture of size/brands??
I am tempted to switch over to TMC slowly as I run out of Daiichi. TMC seems to be everywhere. It seems that the folks that carry Daiichi don’t carry all the sizes I use and I would have to use several places to get what I need.
I use alot of Daiichi and Tiemco. I have also gotten some cheaper hooks online and been well pleased with them. The Tiemco 2488 is a pretty good all around hook for me with regards to scuds, nymphs, and even dries, although I don’t too many dries on them these days. I’m not a die hard “brand” man – I’m much too pragmatic for that approach.
There are a number of hook charts that give you specs on the hooks (1xl, 2xs, tde, tue, etc) that you can use to make sure the hooks are comparable. Once i’ve done that, I just toss them in the same bin. There are more subtle differences in hooks like metal hardness, but you don’t want to go there. But as far as size goes, same hooks in the same bin for me.
I use a lot of Mustad. I also use Daiichi for spiders. I have Tiemco and Dai-Riki. I guess what I am saying is, I will use them all without a lot of preference.
I guess I’m not that “brand” selective either. I use whatever hook will perform as I want it to. I have Mustad, Partridge, Kamasan, Grip, Daiichi, TMC, and Gaelic hooks on my bench. Those are the ones I can readily identify without looking into the hook boxes.
I don’t think you can limit yourself to one fly brand…but if I were too it would be Mustad Signature’s…but there are patterns that come up that “require” a particular style that may not be provided by a brand…
I’ve never felt a reason to be loyal to one hook mfr.
When I started tying in 1981, I only used Mustad. My basic hook selection addressed general trout dries & nymphs, as well as steelhead and bass flies. In the following years, as my budget allowed, I tried various models from all the “better” manufacturers.
My present hook selection has evolved to using:
Trout Dries:
[ul]
[li]Mostly TMC (and some Daiichi) with few exceptions. I bought many of these when I “discovered” them around '91 or so.[/li][li]Mustad #94840. I still find these to be great hooks for general trout patterns in sizes 12 to 16.[/li][li]Mustad Signature R30 when a lighter wire is called for on certain patterns.[/li][/ul]Nymphs:
[ul]
[li]Again, mostly TMC…with some Daiichi. Numerous models and sizes.[/li][li]Still use some Mustad 3906B and 9671 in a few medium sizes occasionally.[/li][/ul]Streamers
[ul]
[li]Mostly TMC 5263, 300 & 9394/5. I like the first two for muddlers and their kin, while the 9394 & 9395 have no peer for strength and hooking ability.[/li][li]Partridge and Mustad for some traditional streamers I rarely tie anymore. TMC and Daiichi apparently didn’t feel there was enough demand to support marketing a long shank, limerick bend streamer hook. Too bad.[/li][/ul]Steelhead/Salmon:
[ul]
[li]For dries, mostly TMC 7989 and Partridge Wilson. Mustad’s 90240 is a decent hook, and I still use it.[/li][li]For general patterns, the 7999 is strong and well made. Though not as readily available, Gamakatsu’s T10-6H is wonderful. I also use Partridge Model N for the same applications.[/li][li]When I want a more traditional bend, it’s Partridge Bartleet or Alec Jackson/Daiichi.[/li][li]Mustad 36890 on the rare occasion. I still have a good selection and will tie on them when appropriate, but they don’t compare.[/li][li]Eagle Claw 1197N for a couple patterns that just “require” it.[/li][/ul]Bass:
[ul]
[li]Mostly TMC 8089. Couldn’t ask for more in a “stinger” hook. Also like NP version.[/li][li]Some Mustad Signature C52 (I think). Very impressive hook for a decent price.[/li][li]Mustad 37187 on rare occasions. A bit whimpy in comparison but still useful in some applications.[/li][/ul]So that’s pretty much it. I do have some other hooks from at least two other makers in limited selections that I have used, but they don’t come to mind at the moment. I’ve tied enough to know what I want in a hook, and I try to make my decisions accordingly. I would hate to feel limited to one mfr.
I wouldn’t make a scab on a good fly tyer’s butt, but if I could get them easily in all the sizes and shapes I want I would use Eagle Claw because I’m under the impression they are made somewhere in Colorado in the USA. They are not readily available around here in smaller sizes.
I like using Hook & Hackle’s store brand of hooks. They’re forged, bronzed, chemically sharpened. Made in Korea but selected and packaged here. They (for me) have been as good as any name brand I’ve used and they’re WAAAAAY cheaper!
Ron from H&H, contact me by pm to discuss my endorsement fee…
I’ve used Mustad classics for years. In fact, I bought much of my supply before they were “classics” and were merely the hooks that Mustad sold. They were also generally under $10-$12 per thousand hooks. Now that Mustad has “improved” their hooks and raised their prices, I will probably fill the gaps in my hook supply with H & H, Eagle Claw, and Cabela’s hooks. I also hate the new plastic boxes that Mustad uses. 8T
I use mainly Kamasan Hooks, though I do have 1 or 2 paks of Tiemco and quite a large number of Black Magic. A small number of Mustad and would like to get more - but here in NZ they are very expensive.
Kamasan have proved to be a very good hook so far - but I do buy any hooks like you do Fritz that are wallet friendly and on sale.
I use mainly Mustads and more because I eventually learned the numbers of the hooks I liked so it became easier to continue to buy them by their model number than try to match up someone else’s brand. Only Tiemco I use with any regularity is their 200R. Other than specialty hooks such as Alec Jacksons for salmon flies, and some other odds and ends I’ve picked up over the years, mainly Mustads for me. Now I have to try to learn their new system. I just bought some today so I am on my way, but I’ll look to see what I bought for the 94833…R30’s,… got it.
Glenn
