Question on size of fly

[Fontinalis]

Hi everyone:

Here is my question to all that I need to ask and understand. I fish my winged wets most of the time in size 8 and some times need to reduce down in size to a size 10 and sometimes 12. My question hear does this hold true for Soft Hackles and Flymphs? What is the normal hook size that every one hear considers to use to fish with?

Sincerely
Andy Brasko

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Andy,

For myself, I usually tie as large as 10 and as small as 18. A lot of those are tied on 2XS hooks. For some reason the trout where I fish seem to key in strongly on size 14's.

REE

[scotfly]

What is the normal hook size that every one hear considers to use to fish with?

That must surely depend on what it is you are trying to imitate. ( or suggest) If it's a caddis it could be anything from a #6 down to a #18, of if it's an Olive it would most likely be from a #12 to a #16.

[letumgo]

My favorite hooks for soft hackles are in the range of size 4 down to size 14. Not knowing any better, I started out tying them on size 4 and happily found that the the fish loved them in this "plus" size. Don't be afraid to tye some patterns on larger hooks. The nice thing about the larger hook is that you will be able to fish the fly a little deeper than the small sizes. As I gained experience with soft hackle flies, I found sizes 12 to 16 seemed to be more common among other tyers.

[Old Hat]

I too fish in the #6-#10 range. But for the most part, I'm fishing, as others have said, in the #12-#16 range. On lakes I predominantly fish in the #10-#12 range.

[Roadkill]

Most of my regular trout SHs are in the 10-16 range but they also vary from #2s (Steelhead), 3xl#8(Oct. Caddis) to 20s.

[skunkaroo]

Like most have said the size of the bugs dictates the size of the flies (I usual fish one size larger than the hatch, but to each his/her own). I fish from a #20 (rarely) to a #8 (also rarely), but the most common producer for me (in the absence of a hatch) is a fly tied on a #14 standard shank wet/dry hook.

Aaron

[kanutripr]

Most fished size range for me is 12-16. Some of the 16 are on short shaft hooks so are fairly small.

Tied a bunch this year in the 6-12 size specifically for bass. I haven't fished much for bass with soft-hackles yet so this is more of an experimental stage. The larger size ones may be better classed as lures or streamers but have stuck with same principles as flymphs and other soft-hackles so what the hay!

Vicki