Hook Comparison Chart

This chart was originally to be included in the book that Malcolm Knopp and I am writing on tying and fishing Mayfly imitations from around the world.

Find their equal from another manufacurer... not a trivial task

Hook comparison charts are at best fickle or at worst too confusing and inaccurate to use. It is critical to remember that this chart does in no way list equivalent hooks but attempts to list hooks based on similar applications.

Far too many variables exist today to compare hooks in any other way. Even with this in mind individuals will undoubtably find comparisons that they will disagree with. Much of the variation that exists is mainly due to the fact that little, if any, standardization exists today within the hook manufacturing fraternity.
A clear example is a hook labeled as 4 XF on the Redditch scale being comparable to the same hook listed as 1 to 2 XF on the Mustad scale. In addition to that, steel quality will cause shank diameter to vary causing the above scales to be further skewed. A careful read of both Stewart's "Hook Book" and Martin's "Micropatterns" would go a long way to helping the fly-tyer in understanding the subtleties of hook manufacture and classification. I am indebted to these authors for advancing my personal understanding of hook evolution and manufacturing.

When assessing hooks of like application an attempt was made to correlate the Redditch scale to the Mustad scale based on physical dimensions such as shank wire diameter and length, hook weight and in some cases hook gape. Though it required several months to complete this chart it is very possible that a hook model has been missed and not listed appropriately. Should this be the case be assured that it was not an intentional omission. Finally, I believe hook charts of this type will soon disappear. This will be due to the fact that fly-tyers will align themselves with a favorite hook manufacturer and comparisons will only serve an academic interest. Most major manufacturers already ensure they produce specialized hooks produced by their competitors.

Hook Comparison Chart

Style	Type	Mustad	Tiemco	Daiichi	Dai-riki	Partridge	Talon	Orvis	Gamakatsu	Kamasan
Dry Fly	1XF TDE	94840	5210	1170 1180	305	L2A E1A (1XL)	D1310	J1876	P10	B401
	1XF SE	94859	101	1110	310			J4641
	1XF TUE	94842	500U (1XS)	1330 (1XS)		L3B			S10-U
	1XF BL	94845	900BL	1190		L3AY	D1190	J1877	S10-B
	1XF Wide Gape	80000BR	100	1100		L3A		J4864	S10
	3XF TDE	94833	5230			L4A	D1130		S10-3F
	1XF 1-2XS (Parachute)	94838	921	1640 1310		E6A	J1509			B410
	1XF 2XL (Hopper)	94831	5212	1280	300	H1A		J1638	P10-2L1H
	1XF CC	80050BR	2312 200R	1270	270	K12ST	ST163C	J1510		B220
Wet Fly/ Nymph	Std-1XL TDE	3906 3906B	9300 3769	1550 1560	060 070	G3A	W1100 W1100X	J1641	L10-2H	B175
	2XL TDE	9671	5262	1710	730	H1A	ST142	J1524		B830
	3XL TDE	9672	5263	1720	710	D4A	ST163	J1526
English Bait Hook	San Juan Worm	37160	205BL (BL)	1150			SH2200
Egg Fly	3-5XS	9523	105	1510			E217
Streamer	4XL TDE	79580 9674	9395	2220	700		ST2224X	JA0176	S11-4L2H	B820
	6XL TDE		300	2340		CS17	ST2346X	J1511
	8XL TDE	94720				CS15
Swimming Nymph	1XF 3XL	80150BR	400T	1770		K6ST	SN1770	J1512
Shrimp Scud Caddis		80200BR 80250BR	2457 2487	1130 1140	135	K4A K2B	C1130	J1639	C12	B100

CC: Cont. Curve

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From: Carl Zarelli · carlzarelli·at·comcast.net Submitted May 29th 2007 Where can a person get a visual chart of the different hooks made by the different manufactures ? Something that shows the type, bend style of the hook and the different sizes it comes in? From: Paul · wrong.foot·at·virgin.net Submitted June 29th 2006 Please can you include some reference to the actual size in standard units mm, cm, in, for example or perhaps someone has a link? I'm trying to compare fly sizes to the real world (the size of the flies nymphs). Don't take this as criticism this is still the best link I've found in hours of searching, but a rough guess to dimensions in mm or similar is more what I'm looking for than a comparison of manufacturers. Anyone who can help please do! From: Joe Kissane Submitted June 26th 2006 I'm not absolutely sure which of his books it appeared in, but Datus Proper discussed the realities of hook size in one of his books - and I think it was in _What the Trout Said_. Whether or not his discussions hold true in today's market is another thing - manufacturers seem to play fast and loose with conventions when it makes their product appear more state-of-the-art. From: J.C. Cob · kidcob·at·optonline.net Submitted June 25th 2006 What I am looking for is actual photos of as many fly tying hooks as possible, preferably in some kind of size order i.e. # 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, etc. and up to maybe a size 32. Ideally, the photos should be actual size, and include dry fly, nymph, streamer, scud, caddis, multi-purpose, 1 x long, 1 x fine, etc. The reason for this is that I bought out an estate collection of fly tying materials, and there are many boxes of hooks that, although labeled, have become mixed up, probably due to excessive handling. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You. From: Gene Shimizu · bgshimizu·at·comcast.net Submitted June 8th 2006 in the tying of the solf hackle flies as described by sly nemes. what make and model hook would work for this application. can you give me several different manufactures, types and models. From: David E. Bohl · davidebohl·at·centurytel.net Submitted May 17th 2006 Fantastic! I never had a clue on how to compare hooks from different brands or what the numbers meant in the pattern books for flies! From: Richard Nighan · snighan·at·rochester.rr.com Submitted March 22nd 2006 I just need a chart or something . Need pictures to compare this size with that size .There must have been some standards at one time. Dont know if a 4/0 is 1 inch long or 1 foot long. Publish a picture chart comparing sizes.

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