We are in the midst of fly tying season here in the Yellowstone Region and I am filling my dry fly boxes. I have been tying many small dry flies for the upcoming season, which prompted this article on my best small dry fly hooks.
Many anglers I speak to tend to shy away from small flies in the Greater Yellowstone Region. Unlike many Colorado streams (from what I am told), where flies tied on size 22 and 24 hooks are common, many anglers consider a small fly a size 16 or 18 in this region.
While not always necessary, some scenarios exist where using a small fly on Montana rivers can be the difference between catching one and catching many. This is why I tie many flies in the size 18 to 22 range. Hatches that may require these small flies include midges, tricos, blue-wing olives, and ants.
Over the years, I have tested many dry fly hooks and gained confidence in a select few for small flies. I thought I’d share a few things I consider when choosing a hook for small dry flies and a few of my favorite hooks for these flies.
Hook Strength
The most critical aspect of selecting a fly tying hook is assessing its strength, especially in small dry fly hooks. The last thing we want is to have our hook bend out when fighting a big trout.
Small dry fly hooks that are strong enough to keep shape while fighting a trout are hard to find. Success is finding a hook that shows signs of strength and seldom bends out on the water. A straightened hook here or there is part of the challenge that dry fly fishing brings, though some hooks perform better than others.
I find the price of a hook correlates with a strong and high-quality hook. I recommend spending the extra couple of dollars on your small dry fly hooks so you have confidence when faced with a big trout rising to tiny insects.
When buying small dry fly hooks, checking the hook wire is essential. Some dry fly hooks have thicker wire, which ultimately leads to a stronger hook.
I also check the strength of a hook in my vise. If it bends easily and stays bent when you put pressure on it in any direction, I throw the pack of hooks away.
Hook Gap
Another consideration when choosing a small dry fly hook is the gap of the hook. The hook gap is the distance between the point of the hook and the shank. The larger the hook gap, the more likely you will hook and land a fish compared to a tiny hook gap.
I like an average to large hook gap on all of my hooks, as I feel more confident using them on the river. In the past, I have had issues keeping fish on the line with some hooks due to a small hook gap.
Another consideration is the distance between the hook eye and the hook’s point. I prefer straight hooks over curved hook points because I like a little more distance between the hook eye and the point. This may or may not be beneficial, but I’ll take anything that makes me more confident in the hooks I use on the water.
Hook Weight
I also consider the weight of the hook when selecting a hook for small dry flies. What type of dry fly do I plan to tie? Is it a fly I want to float high on the surface or one I want to break the surface and sit partially under the surface?
A small dry fly tied on a heavy hook may sink, especially since we have limited room to put materials on the fly to make it float. If I want my fly to sit partially under the surface, I may use a heavier hook than if I wanted the fly to float high on the surface. However, you do not want a hook that is too heavy as it may sink your fly. It is a balance of finding a strong enough hook to hold fish but not one so heavy it sinks your fly.
Barb vs Barbless
The last thing I consider when choosing a small dry fly hook is whether it is barbless or not. I always prefer barbless hooks and advocate for all catch-and-release anglers to use barbless hooks. Some say barbed hooks can be better as they do not penetrate the fish as deep as barbless hooks. I agree with this viewpoint, though unhooking and releasing the fish quickly is most important for the trout’s survival. Barbless hooks seem to do this the best.
I still tie on many hooks that come with barbs. With my small dry fly hooks, I like to pinch the barbs of the small hooks in the vise. It is very easy to do and much warmer to do in your home rather than on the river while fish are rising to midges.
Best Small Dry Fly Hooks
While many hooks will work for small dry flies, these are my best hooks for small dry flies. I like these hooks in sizes 16 and smaller. I have linked to a website that shows a picture of each hook; click the hook name to view.
At the end of the day, we will all lose plenty of fish while fishing small dry flies. It is part of the challenge and makes landing a large trout on a small dry fly so rewarding. Choosing the right hooks for your small dry flies gives you a better chance to make it all come together. I hope this article helps with your dry fly tying and fishing this season.
Thanks for reading,
Nick
2 thoughts on “Best Small Dry Fly Hooks”
I didn’t see Fulling Mill on here. They make the hooks for Orvis and they sell the hooks
50pcs for $14.95. And I’ve been using them now for the last 3 years with no issues.
I like Fulling Mill hooks and tie with a few of their hooks. I have not used their small dry fly hooks so I did not include them on my list. That’s aweseome! I’m sure they are a great hook.
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