Hareline's Intruder Trailer Hook Wire is a specialized fly tying articulation wire designed for building clean, durable, and dependable trailing hook connections on Intruder-style flies, articulated streamers, steelhead flies, salmon flies, trout streamers, and stinger hook patterns. Built with a plastic-coated finish, this wire provides the right balance of stiffness and flexibility to help keep trailer hooks tracking properly without drooping, fouling, or wrapping into the tail materials.
Whether you are tying large steelhead Intruders, salmon swing flies, trout spey patterns, or compact articulated streamers, Hareline’s Trailer Hook Wire gives fly tyers a strong, thread-gripping connection that stays secure on the hook shank. The coated surface allows thread wraps to bite into the wire, helping create a slip-resistant hold that can be further reinforced with head cement or super glue for long-lasting durability.
Hareline’s Intruder Trailer Hook Wire is a go-to material for articulated flies because it solves one of the biggest issues with trailing hooks: poor tracking. The wire is stiff enough to help hold the stinger hook in position, yet flexible enough to allow natural movement in the fly. We also like the plastic coating because it grips thread extremely well, making it easier to build strong, clean connections on both large and small articulated patterns.
Standard Wire - Rated at over 50 lbs breaking strength when doubled over. Recommended for hook sizes #6 and larger, making it a strong option for steelhead, large salmon patterns, big Intruders, and larger articulated flies.
Thin Wire - Rated at over 18 lbs breaking strength when doubled over. Recommended for hook sizes #6 and smaller, making it ideal for trout streamers, smaller steelhead flies, compact articulated patterns, and lighter stinger hook setups.
For the cleanest setup, leave a short gap between the rear of the main hook shank and the eye of the trailer hook. This gap should be long enough to allow the hook to move and be replaced if needed, but short enough to reduce fouling.
Lay the wire along the top or sides of the hook shank and secure it with firm, even thread wraps. Strong threads such as GSP or 140 denier thread work well for locking the wire in place. For maximum durability, add a small drop of super glue or head cement over the wraps before finishing the fly.
For best performance, pair Hareline’s Intruder Trailer Hook Wire with an open-eye or octopus-style stinger hook so the trailing hook tracks properly and rides correctly in the current.
Plastic-Coated Articulation Wire - The coated surface helps tying thread grip securely, reducing slippage and improving the durability of the trailer hook connection.
Stiff Yet Flexible Design - Helps keep stinger hooks riding correctly behind the fly while minimizing fouling around the tail, wing, or rear materials.
Built for Intruder & Stinger Hook Flies- Ideal for tying modern Intruder-style patterns, steelhead flies, salmon flies, trout streamers, and articulated swing flies.
Two Strength Options - Available in Standard Wire for larger flies and Thin Wire for smaller patterns, allowing tyers to match wire size to hook size and target species.
Color Matching Options - Available in multiple colors so you can coordinate the wire with dubbing, chenille, body materials, or the overall fly design.
Packaging - Comes on 4-yard spools for tying multiple articulated flies and trailer hook patterns.
