Kona Fly Tying Hooks Quick Picks
- Best for Big Streamers: Kona BGH Big Game Hunter Hooks - Our best-selling Kona hook, a short-shank, wide-gap streamer hook for Game Changers, tarpon flies, and other big baitfish. Sizes run from 8 up to 8/0.
- Best for Klinkhammers and Stoneflies: Kona BC4 Barbless Curved Nymph Stonefly Klink Hooks - A curved barbless hook with a 2X gap and straight eye in sizes 6 through 16. It is the Klinkhammer hook in the line and doubles for big curved stonefly nymphs.
- Best All-Around Nymph: Kona WFN Wet Fly Nymph Hooks - A sproat-bend hook with 1X length and 2X strength for Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tails, and soft hackles in sizes 10 through 18.
- Best Dry Fly: Kona BDF Barbless Dry Fly Hooks - Extra-fine wire, a 2X wide gap, and a down eye for dries, CDC patterns, and emergers in sizes 10 through 20. Barbless from the factory for quick releases.
- Best for Euro Jigs: Kona BJH Barbless Jig Hooks - A competition-style 60-degree jig hook in sizes 10 through 16 with a wide gap and 1X strong wire. Use it for Euro nymphs and micro streamers that ride point-up.
How to Choose Kona Fly Tying Hooks
Barbless B-series vs. the Universal line
Kona splits its trout hooks into two groups. Models starting with B are factory barbless: the BC1 through BC4 curved hooks, the BDF dry, the BSN standard nymph, the BSS long-shank streamer/stonefly, and the BJH jig. The Universal models (UDF, UCK, USP, UMS) and the NS, TS, TND, and WFN hooks carry a barb and generally cost a little less.
Action: Decide barbed or barbless first, then match the shape. The B-series gives you a curved hook for every job: the BC1 has a 1X gap for scuds and pupae in sizes 12 through 20, the Kona BC2 Barbless Curved Nymph Emerger Shrimp Hooks step up to a 2X gap, the BC3 is the caddis and Czech nymph hook in sizes 10 through 20, and the BC4 is the Klinkhammer and stonefly hook.
Streamer and predator hooks
Best for: Game Changers and short baitfish, the BGH and the Kona SKB Short Keeled Streamer Hooks. Both are short-shank, wide-gap hooks with a straight eye; the SKB adds a curved shank designed to keel the fly so it tracks upright. For pike, musky, and peacock bass, the BGC Big Game Carnivore is 2X strong in 1/0 through 6/0.
Best for: Hair bugs and stinger-style streamers, the XSS Xtra Strong Stinger, 2X strong with a wide gap in sizes 1 through 3/0. The BPH Big Popper has a kinked shank that stops popper heads from rotating, in 2/0 and 4/0.
Best for: Trout streamers, the TS4, a 4XL down-eye hook for Woolly Buggers, Muddlers, and Zonkers in sizes 2 through 8, and the UMS Universal Mid-Range Streamer, a sproat-bend hook for Clousers and smallmouth patterns.
Use shank length as your sizing tool
Kona names several hooks by shank length, which makes scaling a pattern easy. The WFN is 1X long for standard nymphs, the NS2 is 2XL and 2X strong, the NS3 is 3XL and 2X strong, and the TS4 is 4XL. The BSS is a long-shank barbless hook at 1X strength for sculpins and stonefly nymphs when you do not need heavy wire.
Tip: For hoppers, stonefly nymphs, and other naturals with a curved body, the TND Terrestrial Nymph Dry has a gently sloping bend and straight eye in sizes 8 through 18.
Why Trident Carries Kona
Kona comes from the Flymen Fishing Company crew, and the hooks were designed around modern streamer and competition nymph patterns rather than adapted from older shapes. You get high-carbon steel, a black nickel finish, and sizing that makes sense across the line at prices competitive with the established brands. The BGH in particular has become a shop favorite for Game Changers and big saltwater streamers.
Materials & Durability
- Forged high-carbon steel: Most Kona hooks are forged, which flattens the wire at the bend for strength. Carbon steel is not stainless, so rinse saltwater flies and dry them before boxing.
- Black nickel finish: Kona uses black nickel across the line to resist rust and cut glare. It is a coating, so avoid grinding it off with tight lead wraps or beads.
- Barbless means tension: The B-series holds fish through point geometry rather than a barb. Keep a bent rod and steady pressure and you will lose very few fish.
- Check the point: Test each hook on a fingernail before tying and touch up a rolled point with a hone.
Complete Your Setup
Related Gear
- Streamer Hooks - Compare the BGH and SKB with other short-shank and stinger streamer hooks.
- Barbless Hooks - More factory-barbless dry, nymph, and jig hooks.
- Fly Tying Beads, Cones & Eyes - Slotted tungsten for the BJH and dumbbell eyes for the BGH and UMS.
- Fly Tying Synthetics - Body fibers, brushes, and flash for Game Changers and baitfish patterns.
Related Guides
- How to Tie the Feather Game Changer Streamer
- How to Tie the Klinkhammer Fly Pattern
- How to Tie a Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear
- How to Tie Walt's Worm: The Ugliest Fly That Won't Stop Catching Trout
- How to Tie a Surface Seducer Double Barrel Popper Fly
Kona Fly Tying Hooks FAQs
Q: Who makes Kona fly tying hooks?
A: Kona is the hook brand from the Flymen Fishing Company family, the same people behind Fish-Skull and Nymph-Head products. The hooks are forged high-carbon steel with a black nickel finish.
Q: Which Kona hook is best for Game Changers?
A: The BGH Big Game Hunter is the standard choice, with a short shank, wide gap, and sizes from 8 up to 8/0. The SKB Short Keeled Streamer is a newer option with a curved shank meant to keel the fly.
Q: Are Kona hooks barbless?
A: The models that start with B (BC1, BC2, BC3, BC4, BDF, BSN, BSS, BJH) are factory barbless. The Universal, NS, TS, TND, WFN, BGH, BGC, XSS, BPH, and SKB hooks have a barb.
Q: What is the difference between the Kona BC1, BC2, BC3, and BC4?
A: All four are barbless curved hooks. The BC1 has a 1X gap for small scuds and pupae, the BC2 a 2X gap for emergers and shrimp, the BC3 is the standard-length caddis and Czech nymph hook, and the BC4 has a 2X gap and straight eye for Klinkhammers and stoneflies.
Q: Which Kona hook should I use for Euro nymphs?
A: The BJH Barbless Jig Hook, a 60-degree jig in sizes 10 through 16. Pair it with a slotted tungsten bead so the fly rides point-up.
Q: Can I use Kona hooks in saltwater?
A: The BGH, BGC, and XSS are regularly used for tarpon and other saltwater streamers. They are black nickel over carbon steel rather than stainless, so rinse and dry flies after each trip.
Kona Warranty & Resources
Kona's refund policy states that returns are accepted within 30 days for unused items in original packaging and that Kona replaces items only if they are defective or damaged. Hooks are consumables, so there is no long-term warranty. If a pack from Trident arrives short, bent, or dull, contact us and we will take care of it.
Learn More from Kona
- Kona Fly Tying Hooks - The full hook lineup on Kona's site.
- Kona Big Game Hunter at Flymen Fishing Company - Flymen's own page on the BGH and its intended patterns.
- Kona Refund Policy - Return and defect terms from the manufacturer.