Start With Great Hooks to Tie Awesome Flies

Your fly tying is only as good as the hook, so select wisely.

October 31, 2025 By Mike Conner

Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.

When I started fly tying in the 1970s there were only a handful of brands that manufactured hooks for flies. If memory serves me, I leaned on a Mustad 3407 for just about everything. And, then the stainless steel 34007 once I started tying flies for shops and private customers. They don’t rust much if at all. One negative is they are a bit soft, can open up a bit under max pressure, and need a sharpening touch-up out of the box.

Nowadays, there are many brands of what I call super hooks. They can be expensive, but they are also really “sticky.” No sharpening needed.

I’ve come to prefer Gamakatsu hooks, such as the SC 15 for most of my flies. I like its “wide-gap” shape (referred to as gape) and the hookpoint has an upward tilt, which I’m convinced gets better penetration on the hookset. For tarpon flies, I use Gamakatsu’s SC 17, which is a heavier wire hook, more resistant to opening up. Its gape and hookpoint attitude is similar to that of the SC15. Many offshore fly fishers turn to this one for mahi-mahi and tunas, too. I’ve used comparable hooks, such as the Tiemco (811S) and Daiichi (DX452), though both have rounded bends and hookpoints parallel to the hookshank.

Fly-fishing fly with hook example. — Midnight Minnow tied on No. 4 Mustad 34007, with No. 1 for comparison.

For streamers with oversized heads—spun, clipped deerhair or wool—or hard poppers, I only use the Gamakatsu B10S, also called a “stinger,” in sizes 1 through 2/0. It’s a durable carbon steel hook with a super-sharp, conical point. With these Gamakatsu hooks, expect to pay between 70 cents to a dollar apiece, whereas a Mustad 34007 is more economical at around 30 cents apiece in a 100-count box.

Captain Scott Hamilton (flyfishingextremes.com) out of Palm Beach, Florida, is an avid tyer who strictly guides fly fishers. Hamilton has developed flies for many inshore and offshore species. Perhaps the most popular is his Eat Me (aka the Hamilton Special), a time-proven baitfish pattern that can be tied on anything from a 4/0 down to a No. 8 hook, for everything from tuna to big tarpon and snook on the beaches, or on the docklights for fish feeding on tiny minnows. He typically ties them on that classic Mustad stainless 34007. “I also like the Eagle Claw 254 SS, a wide-gap, short-shank hook,” he said.

Hamilton points out that bronze hooks left in fish cause infections. “I’ve landed and handled hundreds of fish with bronze hooks in their mouths, and have seen the sores that those corroding hooks cause. That’s another reason to fish stainless, plus used flies won’t rust in your box. Lastly, I can use my $7 hook file and sharpen a box of 100 Mustad hooks, which may set me back 10 bucks! Compare that to $75 to $100 for a box of the latest super fly hooks. It’s a matter of value.”

Streamer fly and hook example. — Gamakatsu B10S is strong, wide-gap hook ideal for bulky streamer or popper.

South Floridian Dave Preston is an all-round Florida saltwater fly fisher who, with Capt. Luis Cortes, won his 4th Gold Cup Tarpon Fly tournament out of Islamorada. That’s over a 5-year period, so needless to say he and Cortes are on a roll.

“In the Everglades backcountry, we were throwing bigger patterns on 2/0 and 3/0 hooks,” said Preston. “My go-to was a Tiemco 600 SP. The 1/0 is razor sharp, heavy wired, so it will hook ‘em and hold ‘em!”

That hook, Preston clarifies, is not ideal for tarpon on the ocean in clear water, where smaller, sparse flies rule.

“The No. 1 is a phenomenal hook, but just not strong enough for my tarpon tournament fishing. I also still use Owner’s Aki hook frequently—it has a heavy duty forged shank, and the triple-edged cutting point that makes it popular.”

Preston mentions the Gamakatsu SL 12, and particularly the SL 12s to round out his tarpon favorites, and claims the 1/0 is ideal for most tarpon flies, but most fly fishers in the Keys drop down to the No.1 for palolo worm flies.

When pressed to divulge which fly hook he uses at present for his tournaments, he responded, “Want to talk about snook fly hooks?” And, who can blame him!? In closing, Preston said that there are still fly fishers back in the muddy Florida Bay spots fishing 3/0 hooks, which at one time was standard everywhere. When mixed-bag fishing Preston says you can’t go wrong with the Gamakatsu SC 15.