Hook size inconsistencies

[Dave Burr]

Dave,

Far be it for me to disagree with the TFF aristocracy but . . . . the size of the hook is the measure of the gape. There is no such thing as a wide gape 18, it would be a size 16.

What has made it even more confusing is the introduction of odd numbers. My favourite Tiemco dry fly hooks are size 11 and 13 :-(

Awaiting inbound :-)

Fair play NIgel, I stand corrected. Gape always was the standard but, with so many designs nowadays, it seems so much more oblique. Maybe they should be packaged as 'approximate' sizes. Mind you, I'm all over the odd number hooks, especially for carp. The size discrepancies are very evident in some designs so, a wider choice helps. It also helps to fill my tackle box and the manufacturer's pockets.

All hooks are marketed with a picture of them, which should give you some idea.

[Hovis]

Hmmmm. Interesting indeed. I agree the gape should be the main reference in terms of hook size to ensure at least some consistency.
There are most likely 1000's of patterns out there. I use very few 'old' patterns now - a few kamasans really.
Modern hooks are amazing and choosing the correct pattern, in the correct size for the correct species really does make a difference. I've got 2 favorite manufacturers currently, Guru who do a range of excellent hooks for match style fishing. Some, like the QM1 look like ridiculous but are then grayling hooks I've ever used. Finally, Drennan and the 'specialist's range. Typically used in size 12 and under and far superior to a 'carp' hook in a smaller size. Oh and I rather like the odd sizes too. A 7 fox is my favourite carp hook!
And whilst we are on changes to angling........when did people start referring to line diameter rather than breaking strain - it just confuses me!

[Woodytia]

I nteresting I always thought it had someting to do with the thickness of the wire, but Ihad noticed a disparity between different makes of hook.

[Duckett]

I gave up buying hooks by quoted manufacturers size many years ago.
I much prefer to actually see what I am buying and buy to my requirements.
Hook sizes in my opinion mean very little. This moves across to the saltwater hooks I use either off the beach or boat as well.

I have no use for a hook smaller than a size 16 as I used to understand it anyway, and tbh rarely use anything smaller than a 14 old scale anyway.

David

With you on most of that David. I look for a hook that matches my bait and target fish, ignoring the stated size. Though, unlike you, I do still use some labelled 16, 18 and 20.

Phil

[Silfield]

I gave up buying hooks by quoted manufacturers size many years ago.
I much prefer to actually see what I am buying and buy to my requirements.
Hook sizes in my opinion mean very little. This moves across to the saltwater hooks I use either off the beach or boat as well.

I have no use for a hook smaller than a size 16 as I used to understand it anyway, and tbh rarely use anything smaller than a 14 old scale anyway.

David

With you on most of that David. I look for a hook that matches my bait and target fish, ignoring the stated size. Though, unlike you, I do still use some labelled 16, 18 and 20.

Phil

Thats my approach now, ignore what it says on the packet and visually scan what you have and pick out something suitable for the conditions/target species. Looking through the hooks that I have, its amazing the variance in size between hooks.
I recently fished a small river with Gudgeon as the target and decided that the size 16 that I had on was too big and opted for a fine wire 18. I spent the best part of 10 minutes nodding my head to try to get the vari-focals in the right position to thread the damn thing only to discover that it was a spade end!

Ian

[Dave Burr]

Thats my approach now, ignore what it says on the packet and visually scan what you have and pick out something suitable for the conditions/target species. Looking through the hooks that I have, its amazing the variance in size between hooks.
I recently fished a small river with Gudgeon as the target and decided that the size 16 that I had on was too big and opted for a fine wire 18. I spent the best part of 10 minutes nodding my head to try to get the vari-focals in the right position to thread the damn thing only to discover that it was a spade end!

Ian

[Duckett]

I gave up buying hooks by quoted manufacturers size many years ago.
I much prefer to actually see what I am buying and buy to my requirements.
Hook sizes in my opinion mean very little. This moves across to the saltwater hooks I use either off the beach or boat as well.

I have no use for a hook smaller than a size 16 as I used to understand it anyway, and tbh rarely use anything smaller than a 14 old scale anyway.

David

With you on most of that David. I look for a hook that matches my bait and target fish, ignoring the stated size. Though, unlike you, I do still use some labelled 16, 18 and 20.

Phil

Thats my approach now, ignore what it says on the packet and visually scan what you have and pick out something suitable for the conditions/target species. Looking through the hooks that I have, its amazing the variance in size between hooks.
I recently fished a small river with Gudgeon as the target and decided that the size 16 that I had on was too big and opted for a fine wire 18. I spent the best part of 10 minutes nodding my head to try to get the vari-focals in the right position to thread the damn thing only to discover that it was a spade end!

Ian

I gave up fumbling about, accepted the inevitable and started using hooks to line for every size from 12 a few years ago!

Phil

[Liphook]

The standardisation of the Redditch scale went out of the window decades ago. Partridge used to produce some hooks that they labelled 14s that were bigger than some Kamasan 8s. It's become like a comparison of all varieties apples, oranges, onions and melons at once! Line diameter I'm more in favour of but admit it takes a bit of getting used to!

[Grumpy]

Look at the hook before buying is what I always do.I would never buy them online,only by going into a tackle shop.I use Drennan for most of my fishing and they have yet to let me down.

[Duckett]

The standardisation of the Redditch scale went out of the window decades ago. Partridge used to produce some hooks that they labelled 14s that were bigger than some Kamasan 8s. It's become like a comparison of all varieties apples, oranges, onions and melons at once! Line diameter I'm more in favour of but admit it takes a bit of getting used to!

It’s a separate subject but as you mention it …….. even though I have been using the thinnest 8 strand braid for lure fishing since it first became available, I still find diameter completely unhelpful. Of the lines that aren’t braid (don’t even get me on to fused braid!), the high tech lines are the thinnest but that is because they have the lowest stretch factor. As stretch factor varies so much and could be incredibly useful in line selection, I often wish they’d give an approximate breaking strain and stretch factor. After all, at 35% plus the stretch factor of most monofilament is the biggest variable from line to line!

Phil