Tackle

Hello all. What are the best brands of hooks to use up there for the kings and what size? I asked a guy who was catching a lot last year and i was shocked at how small the were. Also, have you ever heard of a website overstockbait.com? If so, any luck?

Thx. I would say mainly eggs, and egg sacks. What brands are good? People always talk about cheap hooks that will bend. I would prefer to avoid that if i can.

Yes I use Mustad mostly. 37132 for alot of stuff $10 for 100 is a good 2x strong egg hook. I even use it for a few nymphs even though it technically is not a nymph hook. The other Mustad are the signature series co68 for eggs and nymphs. 3906b for nymphs and stones. They are 6.99$ for 50.   Daiichi also makes good hooks they are $5 for 25.   Don't tell anyone, but I also buy those cheap ''all purpose'' hooks at Wally world to make estaz eggs with especially when I am taking my nephew as he loses a ton of flies. NEVER  had one bend or break even on kings they are 20  for $1.50 I think.

I use Mustad, Daiichi and Tiemco on my flies.  Mustad being the most economical followed by Daiichi then Tiemco.  
I have had hooks bend and on occasion break but too few to not use that brand hook.
 

Mustad and Blackbirds 4s and 6s.  Stay away from owner's egg hook, I used them once and broke them on fish multiple times.  Mind you I don't know if they were 2x.

Well I was just up and bought some materials for a new fly I am thinking of. Prices raised about a dollar on the 50 packs of mustards at 7.99$ for 50

I think our sponsor here has the mustads co68 for $3.45 for 25 and the 3906b for $5.25  for 50.  Both good prices and with a $30 order free shipping. The 37132 is a little harder to find online. It is very similar to the 68 hook and I find myself using it alot.

Yep.
 

dtrobe
Does a size 12 fly, for example, mean its always made with a 12 hook?

What does vary is the hook strength via wire size- 2x is stronger than 1x and what I use for salmon along with 3x strong nymph hooks, shank length- 1x long  is generally an egg hook or can be used for one- 4x are long shanks for streamer type flies.
You can land a salmon with lighter wire hooks, but you have to hope the hook is buried completely to the bend, otherwise they tend to straighten. Longer shanks tend to get more torqued- that's why the heavy salmon hooks for your classic streamers.
Oh yeah, Mustads for me, or Orvis hooks as I live near the Flagship store. Their hooks are  a little more, but chemically sharpened and of very good quality- they re-label Daiichis .  I use Gamagatsu Octopus hooks on articulated and tube flies.  - generally 4's.  Like Lucky said, they are dangerously sharp- swinging flies I generally don't hit the bottom, so don't have to worry about the somewhat fragile points. Mustads are the most durable points, I've found.
 
 

8-15 #test will get the job done.
Heavier lands more but hooks less fairly.
Lighter gets more true takers but is tougher to land them, quicker is better unless you intend to keep the fish.
Most will use a rod 9 foot or more capable of handling line in that range.
If the reel has a decent drag and can hold 100 yard of your line of choice it will do.
If the fish is anywhere near that far away its time to point your tip at it and snap it off or turn it around.
 
Eggs, glo bugs, beads, flies all will work.
 

Charlie thanks for the info on the strength and length of hooks. When I first started tying flies I used some 1x strong hooks from Bass Pro for the first fly swap, not the best quality. Ask HT what happened when he hooked a bruiser on one.  Learned my lesson after I lost a few.  I have also found that some sizes very a bit  between brands and even with the same brand, but varying styles. With the Mustads I use the 37132 hooks seem about a size off from the C68's (12's seem like 10's)
 
Spinning tackle I don't use alot, but when I do it is a Shimano Sedona reel and an 11 foot noodle rod from bass pro. I use Trilene XT in 10# test. I then sometimes  up to a 15# leader for salmon. 6# to 10# leader for steel. I use Seaguar red for my leaders, fly and spin and Drennan for my tippet.

I am not willing to run up and down the stream chasing kings.  Therefore, I use 20lb Orvis leaders with 16lb fluorocarbon tippet.  These fish are not leader shy.  I use giant 1/0 red octopus hooks.  I have not had a problem with snagging ....I believe it is because the tips are turned inward.

Dam, I'm old.  I just keep hearing the line from Cheech and Chong's Big Bamboo album- "He stuck  it in his eye, man......"
1 am, grab the gear and go. No 1/0's, though.

Love it during circus time when they see a fly coming and spook off right outa the hole.
 Ya can see it clearly as so many are all colored up with flies and other garbage stuck all over from head to tail--look like X-mass decorations.
Yep -PTSD
Kinda why pounding the river so early has its own rewards- fish or not. At least ya have a chance at unmolested fishes.

Lucky13
For the number of times I have stuck myself with octopus hooks while tying double hook rigs for trolling minnows or tying up for brook trout, I am sure they will stick just abut anywhere you choose to stick them.  I can think of a perfect place for you to stick the 1/0 estatz ripper flies you bring!
 
L13

Me approve of this statement.
Sorry for lack of involvement lately, super busy but everything the "fishers" have posted are right on.
Good to hear a few folks have been out and enjoying their time on the water, river , etc..
Someday I may get that time as well but it's a long way to the light at the end of the tunnel right now..