Fly hooks for Steelhead?

[First Bite]

This is a question for the steelhead fly fishing guys. What brand and size of hooks do you prefer for summer and winter steelhead. I've played around with Orvis hooks which are very nice but they are also very expensive.

Mark

[Pete]

I like Partridge or Tiemco hooks. You won't save any money with them, but they are sharp, consistent and come in the right shapes and weights.

[hickwithaflyrod]

Tiemco run around 1/0-11.50 i think then 4-10.00 so not too spendy but great hooks...

John

[hickwithaflyrod]

Tiemco run around 1/0-11.50 i think then 4-10.00 so not too spendy but great hooks...

John

[rob allen]

After VERY careful consideration I MEAN VERY!!! I have determined that expensive hooks are not worth the money.. Now understand I am going off my own experience! I can't say what it's been like for other people this is just my experience... 18 years worth..

After having used about every hook on the market I am firmly convinced that it doesn't matter one bit what hook you use.. For that reason I have gone back to the standard Mustad black salmon hook I fish them unsharpened and have as good or better of a hook up rate as with tiemco's dia Riki's and diichi's.. I believe you can get a box of a hundred for 10 bucks.. The only thing is that for some patterns on some rivers I like the heavier wire of the tiemco's and on the North Umpqua I like to fish classy looking flies on Alec Jacksons.. But for normal everyday use Mustads are great..

[True]

I have to agree with Rob Allen on this one. Mustads are just fine by me thank you and they don't cost an arm and a fin, I mean a leg.

True

[Stew]

Daiichi makes a decent fly hook also. I think Orvis hooks might actually be made by Tiemco.

[ultralight]

Another vote for Tiemco hooks. They're extremely sharp, strong for its size and are widely available.

[Kilgore]

I have to disagree with Rob Allen that there is no difference between unsharpened Mustad hooks and Tiemco or Daiichi hooks. The sharp "stickiness" does seem to make a world of difference in my hookup rate vs. unsharpened Mustads I used to use before. Some of Mustads are so dull, it's hard to imagine how they could be as effective as the other sharp points in hooking fish. If I ever buy the Mustads or the like, the only way I'd fish with them is if I sharpened them.

[First Bite]

Thanks for the input guys.


Mark

[Fish_N_Russ]

Tiemco, Diachhi, DaRiki, Partridge = higher strength steel, some chemically sharpened

Mustad, Eagle Claw = standard strength, not usually chemically sharpened

I think thats one of the main factors on the price :smile:

Course for trout or smaller, Mustad would work fine almost all the time, I would think.

[Lunker]

Actually, some Mustad and Eagle Claw do come with sharp chemically sharpened hooks--Ultra Point and Lazer Sharp hooks--which are very sharp. But the Mustad's steelhead/salmon hooks are indeed pretty dull, especially with its thick paint.