Hook Information

One of the most asked questions I receive from my customers is about the differences between the hooks available for the chironomids I tie... There are basically two styles of hooks I offer; scud hooks and curved nymph hooks. With a couple of options for each.  Here is a description of each hook:

Competition Scud Hook For competition fly fishing hook designers have created hooks with extra-long needle points to penetrate the fish with minimal resistance. The hooks are also extra strong to resist bending, black nickel finishes for stealth and they have wide hook gaps to reduce the fish becoming unbuttoned.   Scud Hook This scud hook has a gold finish and is barbed. It has a nice curve and is very strong.   Barbless Curved Nymph Hook This nymph hook has a longer shank than the scud hook but a bit smaller hook gap. The longer shank and curve give it a nice gradual taper which makes for a realistic representation of the natural. The hook has a needle barbless point for easier penetration and a black nickel finish for stealth.   Barbed Curved Nymph Hook This hook is the same hook as the barbless nymph hook but with a barb. Hook Sizing: The size of the hook is determined by the hook gap (distance from the hook point to the hook shank). However, because there really is no true standardization between manufactures a size 12 in one brand or hook type may be a bit different from another. What is more relevant is the difference between sizes of the same hook.   I will leave it to you to choose your preferred hook style. The most popular sizes I sell are 14 barbless curved nymph (or barbed)  and 12 competition scud (or the scud)