Fly Tying Hooks & Tubes
Start with the foundation of your fly. Explore barbless hooks, traditional tying hooks and tube-fly components, then compare the shape, wire and size needed for your pattern.
Choose with confidence
Choose the shape before the number
Hook numbers run broadly from larger hooks at lower numbers to smaller hooks at higher numbers, with the /0 system covering larger sizes. They are not standardised measurements across brands. Check shank length, gape, bend and eye as well as the size number. A short-shank wet-fly hook and a long streamer hook with the same number can produce very different dressings.
Dry flies, wet flies and nymphs
Fine-wire hooks can help keep a dry fly light, while heavier wire is often selected for wet flies and nymphs. The finished fly also depends on dressing density, bead and any added weight. Choose a hook specified for the pattern, rather than assuming every hook in a broad category has the same wire or finish.
Jig hooks and beads
Jig hooks use an angled eye. A suitable slotted bead can help it pass around the bend, but fit depends on hole geometry, hook wire and bend shape. Check the actual combination before tying a batch; a bead diameter is not a universal hook-size compatibility rule.
Barbed, barbless and tube-fly choices
Choose barbed or barbless hooks to match your preferences and the fishery rules. With a tube fly, the tube carries the dressing and the hook is a separate component of the rig. Check tube bore, junction tubing, leader clearance and hook-eye fit together. Avoid assuming all tube components are interchangeable.
Build your pattern with fly tying materials, hooks and tubes and tying threads.