Fly tying hook selection

[Vince Fusco]

 Being a newbie at tying, and looking at different online supply stores, all the hook selections are really overwhelming. Short shank, 2x long, fine wire, heavy wire, scud hooks, popper hooks, etc. Are there some standard hooks that I could tie several different kinds of fly's with, or which styles do you use most often? I don't want to buy ones I may never use. 

[Leo Nguyen]

Standard dry and wet hooks for most application. 2x is 2x longer for the shank of the hook, perfect for streamers and various long body designs. Heavy wire is for wet flies to get the flies down. I just use lead wire. Light wire is perfect as slow sink flies and to add on extra live baits if needed.

[Allen Morgan]

I started off with some size 8 hooks.  I think they were either a "general purpose" type, or a nymph hook.  I've tied lots of Wooly Buggers on those.

I've also picked up many other types and sizes of hooks.  As you browse through fly recipes, you'll notice a trend in the shape of the hook.  You might even want to look up each hook as you read the recipe.  It will give you an idea of what is needed, and what you can "get away with" when the listed type/size/brand of hook isn't available.

I've probably got about 10 different types of hooks now, and want/need to get more.

[Bob Davis]

Fishing bluegills with flies can be implimented from spring to fall depending on where they spend their time at that time of year.  Spring fishing can be done in the shallows with or without a float and a small black fly or ant fly tipped with a grub or not depending on the fishes mood.  They are staging for the spring spawn.  They can be taken on the surface in the early morning or after sundown with fly rods or the same float set-up as previously mentioned.  Again the black ant type fly will work fine.  After the spawn the water starts to warm up and the thermal cline starts to get deeper and deeper.  The gills will suspend and move to that as the summer heats up.  Drifting flies with weights or slip bobbers will work well at this time.  Your have to remember aquatic bugs are eatten all summer long so anything that looks like a water fly will be eatten.  An on-line forum like "Fly Tying Forum" will give you all kinds of ideas and are very specific about the materials needed.  Just remember, your material surplus will slowly build as your tie any fly.  Left-overs are a part of the deal.  After doing this for over a decade, I have a plastic box full of past endeavors that may or may not ever be used again.  It goes with the hobby.  There is no end to it unless you decide to only do one specific fly and that's it.  I doubt that will happen once you get going.  Research a fly called the Bully Spider.  It is one of the best all around flies for blue gills you can tie and very easy to learn.  Good luck.  Bob

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[Leo Nguyen]

Bob is smacked on about the bully spider fly. that was the first 5 original flies I've learned to tie, beside the scud and nymph templates. That that productive spider.

[jim cosgrove]

as leo stated,i would stay with the light wire as they are easier to unhook and can be used for dry and wet flies.just add a little lead.i sell flies so i buy in bulk,you can get good namebrand hooks for a few cents a piece.light wire aberdeen hooks make fine streamers and nymphs but are much cheaper as they are not considered fly hooks .i use mustad sproat hooks for the poppers i sell .i can find them on ebay for 4-5 bucks for 200 size 12.all this being said i too have 1000s of hooks i will never use that i bought for flies that i no longer tie.it is a great hobby,really a great hobby here up north as winters get boring fast.when i finally straighten out my computer i will post pics of flies and hooks etc.like a lot of us on here who tie,you only see the good flies,not the hundreds of bad ones i have tied.also most wet flies can easily be tied as jigs so if you find a deal on small jig heads grad em up,

[Rob Hilton]

Mr. Cosgrove… Where can I see a selection of your flies for sale. I am particularly interested in siZe 8 or 6… I don't like to fish with smaller hooks because of the tendency for the fish to swallow the hook. Particularly interested in Black Ant wet flys or any Nymphs you would suggest...

[shooter]

 i tie hooks sizes from a #8 to a number# 4 for gills and chinks,as for sinking fast and slow ,a leader of Fluorocarbon helps with a fast sink,i will also treat my leader to slow the sink rate . 

    down here in Louisiana  i do not fish a lot of skuds,but i catch more then half  of my fish on dragon nymphs,my go to hook for my dragon nymps is a #4 is a Mustad 3260R #4.

[jim cosgrove]

hey shooter how ya been.i think you need to post more often.you flies and techniques for fishing the shallow stumpy water might clear up some discussions on here.up here the only fish that survived last winter were in deeper water.my favorite lake got wiped out and the gills were just making a comeback.i never fish flies bigger than 10 up here.they just don't work.we have dragon flies for sure but damsels and mayflies are the main hatch.starting to sound like a trout guy sorry

[shooter]

Hi Jim good to hear from you man,sorry your lake got frozen,man that is to cold for us cajuns, in real cold weather the webs between our toes freeze and it makes it hard to walk.

    i do understand you hook size choice,let me give you an idea ,try a dragon nymph on the hook i listed,it is a light wire hook and the large profile it creates with the dragon will catch bigger fish ,but you will be surprised   how many small fish you can catch on a #4.

    good to here from you Jim thanks for the hello,later shooter