Dai-Riki #135

The Dai-Riki #135 is a barbed scud/pupa hook available in sizes #8-18. It's built around a shank one size shorter than standard, giving a compact profile that suits short-bodied naturals like midges, buzzers and small emergers, paired with heavy wire, one step stronger than standard, adding a little sink rate and useful margin when fishing for larger fish. Tyers reach for it most often when working on general purpose. The sections below break down what each specification actually means at the vice, which patterns suit it, and which hooks from other manufacturers you can substitute when it's out of stock.

Shank length (1XS). This hook has a shank one size shorter than standard, giving a compact profile that suits short-bodied naturals like midges, buzzers and small emergers.

Wire strength (1XH). It's made from heavy wire, one step stronger than standard, adding a little sink rate and useful margin when fishing for larger fish.

Bend and gape (Sproat). The #135 uses a Sproat bend — a classic rounded profile known for strength and reliable holding.

Eye type (Down). It's finished with a down eye, the traditional choice, which sets a good hooking angle for dry and wet flies fished on a tippet.

Barbed. This is a barbed hook. Many competition rules and an increasing number of catch-and-release fisheries require barbless, so check local regulations — the barb can be pinched down with flat-jawed pliers before you dress the hook.

What size Dai-Riki #135 should you use?

The #135 runs from size 8 through 18. The smaller end of the range (down to size 18) covers midge and small mayfly work, where fine tying thread and sparse dressings matter more than bulk. If you're buying this hook for the first time, the mid-range sizes see the most use at the vice, and tracking exactly which sizes you own is where an inventory app earns its keep — it's the detail most tyers forget at the fly shop counter.

What can you substitute for the Dai-Riki #135?

If the Dai-Riki #135 is out of stock, the closest match in the database is the Dai-Riki #075. When substituting, the specifications that matter most are gape and shank length — these determine whether the finished fly keeps its intended proportions. Wire strength is the next consideration, since it changes how the fly sits in the water: a heavier wire will sink a pattern that was designed to float. Eye type is usually the most forgiving difference, though switching to or from a jig eye changes how the hook rides entirely.

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