[Dave Mundie]

Hi, Just wanted to know how hook size compares between trout and salmon.
When looking at salmon flies for sale online when it says size 8,10,12,14,16 would this be the same size as trout flies at 8,10,12,14,16, also what about doubles/trebles for tubes and is a wide mouth double 12 the same as a non wide mouth 12?

Dave

[Ben Dixon]

Hi Dave,

The hooks size refers to the gape, anything else should be defined by shank length in terms of size.  When looking at Partridge hooks, it is best if you can find one of their online catalogues and look at the actual size.  Some of their hooks are fairly way out there when it comes to sizing.

Cheers

Ben

[Rob Brownfield]

Dave,
Sizing seems to be wildly different between manufacturers and ranges.

"Generally" speaking, I have found that a size 10 trout hook will be smaller than a size 10 salmon double...but not always!

Also, something like a Partridge Salar double has a shorter shank than the same size Partridge Wilson Low Water double.

 

[Peter McCallum]

check out the kamasan range of trout hooks. b175 and 170 are different sizes. b100 12 and 110 10 are same size so what chance salmon hooks. No manufacturer has a 'standard' hook size which is easily understood hence why you'll find fly tyers speaking in numbers when talking hooks. 

[Rob Brownfield]

Useless fact...
Hook sizing came from needle making originally. Needle makers were the first commercial hook manufacturers and the numbers refer to the guage of wire used to make the "needle".

So, the number really referes to the thickness of the wire, and maybe this is why there is some confusion by manufacturers to the size of hooks.

Here is a useful chart for Tiemco hooks btw.

http://www.bishfish.co.nz/articles/general/hook-size-chart.pdf

[Dave Mundie]

Hi, Just wanted to know how hook size compares between trout and salmon.
When looking at salmon flies for sale online when it says size 8,10,12,14,16 would this be the same size as trout flies at 8,10,12,14,16, also what about doubles/trebles for tubes and is a wide mouth double 12 the same as a non wide mouth 12?

Dave

Thanks for the replies guys but I'm not looking at buying hooks for tying, I'm looking to buy ready tied flies.
So when you choose say a size 12 salmon fly would it be approximately the same size as a size 12 trout fly?
Or would it in fact be pot luck as to the size I'd receive, surely if the retailer says its a size 12 surely it must be a size 12.

I know what I have in my box of trout flies that was purchased as a say 12 I want to know if I purchased a size 12 salmon fly if it would look the same size,It's fine if I buy local as I can see the size but not when online.

Dave

[Graham Ritchie]

Many commercially tied salmon flies are tied on low water hooks, these have a 2X shank length, so a size 12 Low water salmon double will have a body length of a size 10 standard shank trout hook. But like the post above state, these sizes can vary quite a lot between different manufactuers.