Favorite Chironomid Hooks?

[Stonedfish]

What are everyone’s favorite chironomid hook brands and model these days?
I haven’t tied any in maybe a dozen years but plan to do some lake fishing this spring.
Thanks for your input.
SF

 

[Scudley Do Right]

I tied a bunch last year on the togen hooks, no complaints.

 

[Bob N]

Daiichi 1150, 1760. Both heavy wire.

 

[SteelHeadDave]

Ive had good success with the AJ chironomid hooks. A little pricey but stout enough wire without getting too bulky.

 

[SurfnFish]

Alec Jackson chrom hooks in size 11

 

[Scudley Do Right]

Alec Jackson are what I used in the past. They are nice.

 

[Buzzy]

Alec Jackson chrom hooks in size 11

Let's not forget the same hook in 13 and 15 but I also have experimented with jig hook midges:

Top center is an Alec Jackson nymph hook, #17, the jigs are Firehole sizes 16 and 18 (450's?)

 

[troutpocket]

I like the hooks already mentioned, particularly daiichi 1760 and the analogous AJ covert nymph hooks. But you can’t go wrong with standard heavy wire nymph hooks like daiichi 1560 or TMC 3761. Mustad C49S is another good one.

 

[Stonedfish]

On the AJ hooks, what are the sizes like 11, 13, 15 or 17 equivalent to in say a Daiichi 1760?
Thanks
SF

 

[troutpocket]

On the AJ hooks, what are the sizes like 11, 13, 15 or 17 equivalent to in say a Daiichi 1760?
Thanks
SF

My understanding is both hooks are identical in shape/scale and the AJ odd numbers bridge the size difference in the even-numbered 1760’s. The sizes I use most are AJ #13 and daiichi #14.

 

[Stonedfish]

My understanding is both hooks are identical in shape/scale and the AJ odd numbers bridge the size difference in the even-numbered 1760’s. The sizes I use most are AJ #13 and daiichi #14.

Thanks!
SF

 

[Snopro]

What are everyones most used sizes? I'm guessing12-16? Like the OP I'm trying to fill out my stillwater box after some time off.

 

[troutpocket]

What are everyones most used sizes? I'm guessing12-16? Like the OP I'm trying to fill out my stillwater box after some time off.

12-16 for me. I tie 10’s for summer bombers and 18’s for picky fish.

 

[Smalma]

The last several years I have been using the Daiichi 1160, the Klinkhamer hook. A finer wire than say the 1760 and a different shape. I believe that my take down to fish to hand has been better though due to the lighter wire have had some issues with some hook bending out.

Curt

 

[Dave Boyle]

I use the 1760s, togens and Firehole 718s . I like the latter the best as really strong hooks and come barbless. Their sizing is very generous as I’ve noted in an earlier post.

Dave

 

[Billy]

I'm sort of on a jig chironomid craze

 

[Matt B]

I'm sort of on a jig chironomid crazeView attachment 102098View attachment 102099

Do chironomids on a straight shank hook even work at all, bro?

 

[troutpocket]

Do chironomids on a straight shank hook even work at all, bro?

Nope. All my 100-packs of straight nymph hooks are going straight into the trash!

 

[Buzzy]

Do chironomids on a straight shank hook even work at all, bro?

When I first started fly fishing I don't think very many people were tying on anything but straight shank hooks (keep in mind, given my senior (Boomer) citizen status that Mustad was almost the only game in town). Then one day along came Tiemco and the 2457. I tied chironomids on 2457's, by the fly box full. Anymore, I rarely tie on that hook. Why? Easy - so many choices, so many options. Like @Billy, I even tie a few on jig hooks.

A half dozen years ago Herb, Keith and I were up at Mile High Resort, there were two Americans staying in the cabin adjacent to ours. Herb is a great one to chat up people. One evening he came back after chatting up these two guys, his eyes were glassed over (no, not drugs): he'd got bitten by Fish Lore. GIANT trout in a super secret hike in lake. There was no internet access (or cell service at MHR back then) so our research was asking the owners of the resort about this lake. They said "oh, it's over by Lac Le Jeune". We decided to try and find it and eventually did (the next year); The "Ethyl Lake" chromie on my favorite chironomid hook:


I sure wish I'd seen the trout that ate one of these -----^ It took off and nearly spooled me. I couldn't slow it down.

For what its worth, the lake ain't super secret anymore and given that Lac Le Jeune has become yuppie SUP paradise, many locals have migrated to and somehow managed to get old boats into Ethyl and leave them chained to trees. The once remote lake is now pressured.

 

[Matt B]

The "Ethyl Lake" chromie on my favorite chironomid hook:

And which hook is that? Looks like the Alec Jackson covert nymph hook?