Favorite Tarpon Hooks?

[ChemFly]

What are your favorite Tarpon hooks?
I'm moving onto tying the Black Death for baby/juvi Tarpon.
Any specific style of hooks and sizes that you folks prefer?
Let's hear it...

Thanks a bunch,
Jeff

[Sentience]

I am not sure about tarpon, but I almost exclusively use tarpon hooks for striper flies now. I use Mustad's 2x heavy, 1x shank, not the lightweight ones. I like their weight and their larger gap. But I especially like the short shank, it definitely helps with fouling.

[lemaymiami]

I tie a lot of tarpon flies for fish from 1 or 2 lbs all the way up to the big fish. Here's what I'm using:

Baby tarpon , 1 to 15lbs -- Mustad 34007 or Tiemco 811S, size 2 or 1

Babies, 15 to 50lbs -- Mustad 7766, Owner Aki or Tiemco 600Sp 1/0 or
2/0
big fish from 50lb up -- as above but tying in every size from 1/0 up to
4/0....

Here's a tip, if you have a pattern you like and the fish aren't eating it, before going to another pattern try the same bug in a smaller size... I typically tie my tarpon flies in a large and a small version. The spookier the fish, the smaller the fly.

I have a new tarpon pattern coming out with Umpqua Feather Merchants that will be in fly shops worldwide (hopefully) for the 2007 season. It's called the Swamp Rabbit and it's tied on an Owner Aki 2/0 hook with a wire weedguard. I hope to have an article out on it before then.

[ChemFly]

Bob,
Thank you for sharing your suggestions and experiences with us.
Have you tried the Gamakatsu SB10 Stinger hook for Tarpon? I find it to be a vary sharp and strong hook for its small wire gauge. I've taken many northern species on this hook, and have also taken a few bonefish on the smaller sizes (size 4). Any thoughts?

[msiler]

I really like the Tiemco 600SP but have not done a lot of Tarpon catching...
I hear GREAT things about the Varivas 990's but they are discontinued if I am not mistaken

[ChemFly]

Matt,
The Varivas 990's are no more? Bumber. That was a great hook. Loved
it for albies and even for bonefish. The low/matte finish sheen on the hook was great.

[Capt.PeteRowney]

For my smaller tarpon flies I like the Gamakatsu SC15 in size 1. It's a small size 1 and the thinner wire gauge and chemically sharpened points give great hook penetration. For larger fish, the Owner Aki in 1/0 to 3/0. These hooks stay stuck. For oceanside fish I normally use the 1/0. The Mustad 34007 was mentioned in an earlier post but personally, stainless hooks should have no place in your terminal tackle. -Pete

[msiler]

ChemFly - My understanding is that they have been discontinued. I am not sure if it is a temporary production thing or if they actually are no longer being made? Maybe one of the more knowledgable tiers can chime in...

CaptPeteRowny - If I may be so bold as to expand upon your post...I think the good Capt. means that Stainless Hooks have no place in terminal tackle because of the huge percentage of break-offs with Tarpon. A stainless hook does not "rust out" and takes significantly longer to work it's way out of a Tarpons mouth than many other types of hooks that will start to degrade, rust and weaken pretty quickly and then fall out of the fishes mouth.

[Fishkid]

Matt,
The Varivas 990's are no more? Bumber. That was a great hook. Loved
it for albies and even for bonefish. The low/matte finish sheen on the hook was great.
Hello I know that www.saltwaterflies.com is still selling a few sizes of the varivas 990
He also provide the carbon version, who is even lighter than the SS version.

[ChemFly]

I follow what CaptPete was leading to, and I agree. With so many break offs on Tarpon it would be wise not to use SS if the size permits it.

Which leads me back to the Gamakatsu B10S stingers- I believe they are carbon and are sharp as hell= to the Gamakatsu SC15's, but in a dark brown finish and slightly longer shank. It's worth a try on the juvi tarpon I'll be pursuiting very soon.

Thanks to all who have chimed in- I appreciate your input.
:-%
Jeff

[catspaw]

#1 Choice Owner Aki whatever size fits your pattern. This hook has a shorter point than the Tiemco, it won't round over when setting the hook in a cinderblock.
#2 Choice Tiemco SP600.

I wouldn't go with anything having lighter wire size than these, it's hard to believe but the lighter hooks will spring open when trying to set the hook, no problem with the Owners.