I’m looking for some wide gap nymph hooks in smaller sizes 18,20,22) . I know I could use scud hooks, but I’m curious as to whether wide gape small nymph hooks exist. TMC’s are way too small for example.
Here is my choice for what you are looking for.
I use this Saber hopper/terrestrial hook. Get 100 for the price of 25 Orvis hooks. They are not 2X H but it is plenty strong enough.
http://www.flyshack.com/DisplayItem.aspx?ItemID=23572
Here is a woven stonefly nymph I tied on this hook.
Silver Creek…thanks for the info!
Hi Ralph, they look good but only go down to size 18.
Tiemco TMC2488 or TMC2488H are favorites of the midge crowd when going small, and I use them a lot for small bugs when I need an extra large gape for larger fish. I also like 1XS nymph hooks when I am looking for a bit more classic look, and for those, the Dai Riki 075 is pretty much my favorite nymph hook these days, and I’ve also been playing with the Daiichi 1530, but the latter does not go as small as you are looking for. Luck.
Standard shank hooks in your choice of wire diameter from standard to 3xh (e.g., Mustad R50 & S80, TMC 9300, 900BL, 3769) or TMC 2488/2488H for a wider gap yet.
It’s what you tie on the hook that makes it a nymph, not the hook itself.
Partridge do a Big Mouth Nymph hook. Very large gap to hook shank ratio. I’m sure that Tiemco do one as well but no one, not even Tiemco, seem to want us to know the full range of hooks (personally sick of this attitude - we will only show you what we think you should use).
Cheers,
A.
Bruce,
Something about the scud hooks you don’t like? I tie all my tiny (down to #24, although mostly #20) tailwater stuff - midge, mayfly, caddis, sow bugs/scuds, etc. on Dai Riki 135s and have been very happy with the results.
Regards,
Scott
Hi Scott. I don’t dislike using scud hooks for nymphs, and they do have a wide gape, I was just wondering if there was a wide gape hook in the smaller sizes. Besides, I’m always getting mixed up trying to relate scud hook sizes to standard nymph hooks. Correct me if I’m wrong:
[b]A Size 16 2x Short Scud hook would equal a size 20 standard nymph hook.
A size 18 2 x Short Scud Hook would equal a size 22 standard nymph hook.
Size 16 1x Short Scud hook equals a size 18, etc. etc.[/b]
I prefer the TMC 2488 hooks for small nymphs (below #20) but will also use Daiichi 1130’s and Gamakatsu C12-BM’s if I am not piling up a lot of material on the shank: These are Sniper Baetis (Juan Ramirez) tied on a TMC 2488, #20:
[
](http://s305.photobucket.com/user/planettrout/media/BAETIS BWO FALL/SNIPERBAETISRUST_zps89a8f82b.jpg.html)
…and this is the Gamakatsu C12-BM hook:
http://www.gamakatsu.com/fishing-hooks.php?pid=1139
PT/TB
I agree with PT , TMC 2488 on all micro flies.