This is a great thread...
Brindlebug.... You have been given some awesome advice from Mike and from flytie09. I thought I might chime in with a few thoughts and observations.
You will sometimes see posts of flies tied on slightly curved hooks with slightly long profiles.. Examples of these hooks are the
Daiichi 2051 "Alec Jackson spey Fly Hook" often referred to as an "AJ". These come in sizes 7, 5, 3, 1.5, and 3/0. These are nice hooks and widely available (for now anyway). Some people like them, some people hate them.
I agree with flytie09's observation that the most useful sizes are the
#3 and the #1.5. The AJ 3/0 is a very large hook, and I haven't tied a fly on it in years (or on the BH #1 for that matter).
The McNeese Blue Heron hook is similar, and again.... some people hate this hook, others love them..
They are however sized quite differently than AJs.
For example, an AJ #3 is NOT the same size as a BH #3 which can be confusing...
The AJ # 3 has no BH hook of similar size.
The AJ #1.5 is almost exactly the same size as a BH #3.
There is no AJ the same size as a BH #2...which is larger than the AJ #1.5 .
Finally the AJ# 3/0 is larger still, and virtually the same size as a BH #1.
I have attached a few pictures:
Picture 1 shows AJ's in #3, #1.5, and #3/0
Picture 2 shows the BH #2 just between the AJ #1.5 and # 3/0. This is a great hook
Picture 3 shows an AJ #1.5 and a BH #3 held perfectly together in a wine cork. It is difficult at first to see them both, but the eye of the BH is angled up less. As you can see, they are the same size, a great size to tie these flies on.
[url=ht[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51585391598_1be9626a6a_b.jpg[/IMG]
[URL='https://flic.kr/p/2mApsJo']
Like Mike, I also use a Daiichi 2131 #2 or #4 (the Ververka Classic salmon Hook) when tying flies smaller than this. This is a beautiful hook, with a flatter platform than the two hooks above. If you try it, keep in mind this is a light wired hook.
I think that it is important to recognize that not only each manufacturer, but also each style or series of hooks may be sized uniquely. After a while you will get to know the size of hooks you like to use.
If you like these curvy hooks, a great start would be to buy some AJ #1.5 hooks, practice your proportions, and then move on and tie up some smaller ones on AJ #3's.... these hooks are easy to come by.
If you go smaller than that, perhaps switch to some of the other classic salmon hooks mentioned.