Fly fishing hooks come in broad range of sizes. Usually you point them by means of numbers. Incredibly, does not exist uniform standard for hook sizes, so they vary a lot between various brands.
For instance, hook of size 14 from one brand can a bit differ to that from another. Such differences commonly frustrate. Size 8 hook can seem identical to size 4, because the difference depends of the shank length.
How Fly Hook Sizes Work
Hook of size 8 have occasionally twice longer shank than standard size 4, what pushes them appear equal.
Hook size is probably its most important feature. Trout flies use hooks of around size 2 until 32. They are usually even numbers.
The bigger the number, the smaller the hook. The most little are size 32, during the biggest go until 20/0. Widely hook size bind to shank length, but it ranges according to the maker.
Fly size depend of hook size, that measures the distance between shank and point. Scud-hooks have shorter shank and broader distance. You call hook length 1X, 2X either 3X, what shows, do the shank is one, two or three times long as the distance.
Basic fly usually ties on 2X long hook, although exist many exceptions.
For hooks bigger than size 1, the numbers grow of 1/0 with slash and zero. The zero you pronounce „aught“, for instance 2/0-hook. That goes until terrific 20/0 hook for game fish.
Other species require different sizes. Freshwater bass uses 2-6, while panfish as bluegill require 8-12. Trout favour 6-20, and for small fishing even 22 or more little.
Trout fishers most commonly chooses size 2 for streamer or nymph. Commonly you imitates trout foods by means of sizes 12, 14 and 16. In the little end comes 18, 20 and occasionally 22.
In freshwater fishing #16 well answer for nymphs and dry flies, while #8 are usefull for stoneflies, buggers, small popers and grasshoppers.