Ahrex Fly Hooks

Fly hooks are categorized by their intended use, shank shape, wire weight, and eye orientation. These characteristics determine how a fly will sit, sink, or float in the water.

Types of Fly Hooks by Intended Use

Dry Fly Hooks: These are made with lightweight, fine wire and typically have a standard shank length to ensure the fly floats on the water's surface. They are used for flies that imitate adult, surface-dwelling insects like mayflies, caddis, and grasshoppers.
Nymph Hooks: Designed to sink, these hooks have a heavier wire and come in both straight and curved shank designs to imitate aquatic insect larvae and pupae. Heavier wire helps the fly descend in the water column.
Streamer Hooks: Used for patterns that imitate larger prey such as baitfish or leeches, streamer hooks feature a long shank (often 1X, 2X, or 3X long) and a heavy wire for strength.
Scud/Emerger Hooks: Characterized by a short, curved shank, these hooks are ideal for matching the body profile of crustaceans like scuds and sowbugs, or emerging insects that hang in the water column.
Jig Hooks: These hooks feature a 60° or 90° bend near the eye, which causes the fly to ride with the hook point facing up. This design helps reduce snags on the river bottom and increases hook-up rates, especially in Euro nymphing techniques.
Saltwater Hooks: Generally larger and made from corrosion-resistant materials (like stainless steel or black nickel finish) to withstand the harsh saltwater environment and powerful game fish.

Key Features and Terminology

Shank Length: Varies from extra short (XS or 2X short) to extra long (XL, 2X long, etc.) to match the length of the natural insect or baitfish.
Wire Weight: Ranges from extra fine (XF or 2X fine) for buoyant dry flies to extra heavy (XH or 2X heavy) for durable, fast-sinking flies and strong fish.
Eye Orientation:
- Downturned Eye (TDE): The most common style, with the eye bent toward the hook point.
- Upturned Eye (TUE): Traditional on some salmon and steelhead patterns.
- Straight/Ringed Eye (RE): Common for streamers and saltwater flies to ensure they track straight when retrieved.
Barb: Hooks are available as either barbed or barbless. Barbless hooks are preferred for catch-and-release fishing as they minimize harm to the fish.
Size: The numbering system is typically inverse for standard hooks (a size 14 is smaller than a size 12). For very large hooks (like those for big game), "aught" sizes (1/0, 2/0, etc.) are used, where the larger the number the larger the hooks.

Hook Size	12, 4, 7, 8, 2, 6, 10, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 26, 28, 1/0, 2/0, 3/0
Part Number	SA220, NS110
Usage	Dry Fly, Nymph, Streamer, Sud/Emerger, Jig, Saltwater
Qty	5, 10, 25, 50, 12

Ahrex Fly Hooks

Hook Size

Part Number

Usage

Qty

Specifications

Follow us