Smallest Fly Hook

[BredMan]

I have talked to two different people this past year who tie flies on a size #32 hook. One gentleman in KC uses a hook that I believe is even smaller. This guy is a fanatic about tying the smallest fly. He said that he uses magnifying goggles much like a surgeon to create these small flies. He also buys wooden ink pen blanks, embeds the fly into the cap, covers with clear epoxy, and gives them to people as gifts. Pretty neat looking too. BTW - his name is George and he works part time in the new KC BP (fly shop). George has some of his creations stuck to the counter in the fly shop. Very interesting gentleman to chat with as well.

My question is just how small of a hook size do you tying fanatics honestly go for a fly to be realistically functional for fishing? I have a difficult time seeing or threading anything smaller than a #20 anymore. Just curious.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I don't go smaller than 18.

Has he caught fish on the #32?

SIO3

[BredMan]

I don't go smaller than 18.

Has he caught fish on the #32?

SIO3

Not sure if George has but the other person claims to have, although I would like to witness such a feat to believe myself.

[fishinwrench]

I tie a couple of midge patterns on TUE (turned up eye) 28's and have caught and landed some good sized fish on them at Bennett.

The only time those tiny patterns work for me are when fish are numerous....like in the Trout parks. I've never had success on anything smaller than 18 when I'm fishing outside of the parks.

[flyfishmaster]

I tie down to a sz 26 on each midge pattern I make. I do own sz 30 hooks but have not attempted to make any patterns on them. I did catch one trout on a size 30 Trico down on the Current River 2 years ago. But that is it.

Later,

FFM

[DaddyO]

The smallest I've tied is a #20 and I don't do that on a regular basis. I've had the most success catching fish on #18 and larger.

[Geoff]

i usually use a 20 or 22. smallest ive tied too was a 32 and my vice kept popping the hooks

[RSBreth]

I tie some 20's and very, very few 22's these days. Midge patterns mostly for Taney and The White.

32's? Hope he's having fun with that.

[timsfly]

I have tied and caught fish on 32's, true more pull off than you land, but it is fun and what do I care, going to turn them loose

anyway.

I tied a few of the new gamakatsu size #30 midge hooks this year when I was on the juan, only hooked up a few times with

them and never landed a fish on one, but it was fun.

I use #22-26's all the time, and have good luck with them.

I use more #16's and #18's as I get older and they are just eaiser to fish.

I tied a handful of #30 glo-balls a few years ago, took me almost 2 months to

finally hook and land a fish over 20" and I did that at taney, I hookd a few 20"+ fish on the small hooks, but

after a short fight the hook pulled out.

The little glo-balls were fun, sometimes a fish would take them 3 or 4 times before I would finally get the hook in them

the #30's were so small the fish didn't seem to regiester them as a danger. 6X tippet will fit thru the eye of a 32, but you may

have to trim it to a point to get it to go thru the eye.

[duckydoty]

I have tied some dry midges on size 32 hooks for Taney. Have caught a few fish on them. I think I have a tube with a few of them still in it if you would like them. It was fun to try but not very efficient. I too have tied the micro eggs on 28's and 30's. I think I still have a few of them around too???