If you’ve been tying for a while, chances are your bench is already littered with half-full hook packs and a few mystery models with faded labels. But building a truly versatile hook collection isn’t about hoarding random sizes—it’s about having the right fly tying hook, for the right job, right when inspiration (or the hatch chart) demands it.
Below, we’ve pulled together a smart selection of hooks from trusted brands like Tiemco, Mustad, and Umpqua, covering a range of species and fly styles.
Whether you're tying micro midges for picky tailwater trout or bulky baitfish patterns for salty brutes, this guide gives you the backbone of a well-rounded hook arsenal.
Fly Tying Hook Essentials For All Tyers
1. Dry Fly Tying Hook Essentials
Tiemco TMC 100
The TMC 100 is a gold standard for a reason. Light enough to keep your fly floating on fine tippet, but with just enough hook strength for solid sets. Perfect for tying classics like the Adams or Blue-Winged Olive.
Mustad R50-94840
A rock-solid alternative with excellent price-per-hook value. Great for mayflies, caddis, and anything you plan to float in volume.
2. Nymph Workhorses
Tiemco TMC 2457
Ideal for scuds, caddis larvae, and egg patterns. The heavy wire helps your flies sink without split shot overload. This is a go-to for tailwater junk rigs.
Umpqua XC130
A down eye hook with a wide gape, the XC130 is a perfect all-around hook for many different straight, long-bodied dry fly and nymph patterns. The slightly upturned point offers excellent hooking and holding capacity on a barbless frame.
Mustad C49S
Great for emergers, chironomids, and Klinkhammer-style flies. That curved profile really nails the natural posture of insects in the film. Available in barbed or barbless.
3. Streamer Staples
Tiemco TMC 5263
One of the most versatile streamer hooks ever made. Tie up Woolly Buggers, Zonkers, or Baitfish patterns with confidence. Strong, sharp, and ready to swim.
Mustad S82
A durable, multi-purpose hook for nymphs and streamers.The down eye design ensures secure tying, making it ideal for woolly buggers, stoneflies, and other subsurface flies.
Umpqua XT350
The XT350 Streamer Hook is the perfect hook for single-hook streamer patterns or articulated patterns. It features an extra-wide gape Aberdeen bend, straight-eye, and standard wire in a black finish.
4. Saltwater and Predator Fly Tying Hooks
Tiemco TMC 800S
Corrosion-resistant and brutally sharp, the 800S is perfect for tying deceivers, surf candies, and crab patterns for stripers, snook, or redfish.
Mustad S71SAP
A proven performer in the salt. The S71SAP is Mustad's all-around O'Shaughnessy hook and features their proprietary sticky-sharp AlphaPoint tip as well as the TitanX matte gunmetal finish for reduced reflected glare and increased stealth.
Umpqua XS420 Saltwater Flats Hook
Ideal for tying classic flats flies like Gotchas, Mantis Shrimp, as well as crabs and spawning shrimp patterns, the XS420 is a dependable choice for anglers chasing ghostly shadows across tropical sandbars.
5. Jig & Tactical Tying
Umpqua XC450 Super Gape
Made for Euro nymphing, this fly tying hook rides point-up to reduce snags and improve hookup ratios. Excellent for modern competition-style flies.
Tiemco TMC 403BLJ
The lightweight cousin of traditional jig hooks—ideal for smaller Euro patterns and micro perdigons where stealth matters.
Pro Tip: Don’t Just Stock Sizes—Stock Styles
A well-rounded hook collection isn’t just about size runs. Think in terms of shapes, gapes, and wire weights. For example:
Want to tie a nymph and a streamer in size 10? You'll need different wire gauges and shank lengths.
Tying parachutes and klinkhammers? Consider curved and straight-eye variations for better fly balance.
Having a strategic variety of hooks lets you pivot quickly to seasonal changes, new patterns, or specific target species, all without putting your vise on hold.
Hooks are the foundation of your flies. Investing in a smart, diverse collection will not only improve your tying efficiency, it will absolutely make a difference in your success on the water. Whether you're tying tiny tricos or beastly baitfish, the right hook is where it all begins.
1 comment
Russ
Nice article on hooks. Thanks.