The size of a fish hook is determined by it pattern; it is given in terms of the width of the gap of the hook.  The two important dimensions of the hook are made clear; its gap and its throat.  Note the width of the gap, the clearance between point and shank, and the depth of the throat of the hook.  These generous dimensions make for a bigger bite, for deeper penetration of the point, and for better holding power.  The weight of the fish is carried high up on the center of the bend.

  HOOK TERMINOLOGY 

Ball Eye: 

A strong untapered eye, it is the simplest eye form.   It is available turned up and turned down.  Considered to heavy for dry flies, hooks with ball eyes are used primarily for wet flies.

 

Tapered Eye:

Also produced turned up and turned down.  The tapered eye is made to maintain a full inner diameter while at the same time it features a reduced outer diameter.  This is achieved because the diameter of the wire decreases as the eye closes.  The larger diameter makes for easier insertion of leader material in the eyes of the hook and, when turned up, faces away from the point of the hook, leaving the gap clear and enhancing the chances of the small hook setting firmly and quickly when hit.   Tapered eye hooks are used for dry flies, wet flies and streamers.

 

Looped Eye:

Properly referred to as the looped eye because of its construction, this eye has been a traditional characteristic of salmon fly hooks.  It is a strong fly hook, easily tied to leaders and is less likely to fray them than ball or tapered eyes.   In addition to dry and wet salmon hook patterns, the looped eye is available in a barbless dry fly pattern and in a long-shanked streamer hook.  Available turned up and turned down.

 

Oval Eye:

This eye takes it name form it obvious shape.  A characteristic found on many traditional salmon fly hooks as well as numerous treble hooks.  The oval eye is used to achieve a slimmer profile than and eyed hook.

  HOOK SIZES 

Every fly has a size number which is determined by the hook pattern (name) and which is stated in the terms of the width of the gap between the hook point and the hook shank.  The gap width of the given size in one particular pattern of family of hooks...for example, the Viking...for the most part does not vary.  One might note slight deviations in gap width among the same family.  Between different hook families, there is little compatibility in gap width.

This informative information was brought to you by Mustad Hooks