I received a question from Bernhard.

I would like to apoligize for delay of its reply.

He probably wanted to make comparison list of Western flyfishing hook sizes and the counterparts of Japanese hooks.

Unfortunately I am afrait it would be impossible.

I have to explain the reason by introducing about Japanese hook sizes.

Japanese fishing hook sizes vary.

The hooks all differe depending on target fish and fishing methods.

Please look at the illustration.

They are all refered to as number seven hook size. But the hook sizes look different.

Those are hooks for seabass, sand borer, black rockfish, black sea bream from the left to the right.

For example, size 10 hook for sand borer and size 5 hook for black sea bream.

If you just look at the hook size numbers, size 10 is of course big, but if you compare them, you find size 5 for black sea bream is actually larger.

The mouth sizes of those two fish are totally different; their bait size are completely different.

Probably the hooks are designed and engineered according to target fish.

Each manufacturer makes their own hooks; therefore there is no standard for hook sizes.

Categorizing fishing hooks is no easy job. It is way more complex and implying than we think.

Every Japanese hook manufacturer has their own manufacturer standard.

Also they make different size criteria for different shapes.

the TIEMCO catalogue which has as many as 7 pages just for hooks.

The picture shows the TIEMCO catalogue which has as many as 7 pages just for hooks.

This means there are so many hook types for each hook manufacturer.

It is endless to look into them. It would be much wiser to spend more time on practicing casting once you have found out which hook types are your favorite; you may increase odds of your catch.

Anyhow Japanese hooks are sharp and penetrate so well.

I’ve been a Tenkara fisher (though I have done a little saltwater fishing);

I have always looked for hooks that are sharp enough to ensure excellent hookup in terms of stream fishing, especially Tenkara.

Those hooks also have to be more unlikely to bend or break and also strong with rust.

Through my long-time research, I have come to these three types.

1) Gamakatsu S10-B #14 to #2 *favorite feature: hook point is a bit bent inward

2) TIEMCO 102Y #15, #13 and #11 *favorite feature: great penetrating ability

3) TIEMCO 2499 SP-BL #14, #12 *favorite feature: great shape

Gamakatsu　S10-B

TIEMCO 102Y great penetrating ability

TIEMCO 2499 SP-BL　great shape

What make and what kinds of hooks are your favorite? If you want to tell us, we would appreciate it.