Daiichi 1560

The Daiichi 1560 is a barbed nymphs hook available in sizes #6-18. It's built around a shank one size longer than standard, leaving extra room for a dubbed body or a slightly extended abdomen, 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 nymphs, beadheads, subsurface. 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 (1XL). This hook has a shank one size longer than standard, leaving extra room for a dubbed body or a slightly extended abdomen.

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 1560 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 can you tie on a Daiichi 1560?

The Daiichi 1560 is tagged in the Woolly Bug database for nymphs, beadheads, subsurface. Patterns that sit naturally on this hook include Hare's Ear Nymph, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Copper John, Beadhead Hare's Ear, Beadhead Pheasant Tail, Diawl Bach. Because the hook's proportions drive the finished fly's silhouette, it's worth matching the pattern's intended shape to the shank rather than forcing a recipe onto the wrong blank.

What size Daiichi 1560 should you use?

The 1560 runs from size 6 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 Daiichi 1560?

If the Daiichi 1560 is out of stock, the closest match in the database is the Dai-Riki #060. 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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