Ahrex FW502 — Dry Fly Light Barbed

Dry Fly Light Barbed hook silhouette
Ahrex FW502 — Dry Fly Light Barbed

Ahrex FW502

Dry Fly Light Barbed

Evidence reviewed October 27, 2026. Marks: P photographically · V verified · I inferred · E estimated · S speculative What they mean

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Summary

The Ahrex FW502 is a single-point dry fly hook with a small barb V. The maker lists it as Dry Fly Light V.

One size 12 packet and one photographed hook are recorded here P.

Photographic record

3 photographs

Side view of a black Ahrex FW502 size 12 dry fly hook on grid paper, with a straight shank, round bend, small barb and down-angled eye.
IMG-1Ahrex — New entry — image 1 Size 12 hook, side view: straight plain shank, round bend and a small barb near the point (P).

How to identify it

The front of the packet carries FW502, SIZE 12 and 24 PCS. across the top, a blue banner with the AHREX wordmark, and a red strip reading CHEMICALLY SHARPENED FLY HOOKS. Below them are FRESHWATER SERIES, DRY FLY LIGHT BARBED and BLACK NICKEL FINISH P.

The back of the size 12 packet carries the maker’s text and a barcode with the digits 0 23534 44795 0 P. The maker lists a barbless counterpart, the FW503, under a different model code V. Check the barbed line on the packet and the small barb on the hook itself P.

Technical profile and measurements

Features of the model, as recorded
FeatureRecordedEvidence
EyeTapered Eye, Turned Down
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Small eye angled downward from the shank axis, with a small step on its upper side. Seen edge-on, so the opening and any taper are not visible P.

OBS-1
WireStandard, Round
ShankStandard — Plain
BendRound / Kendal, Standard gap
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Straight shank runs into a continuous round bend of even curvature; no kink or flat section is visible in side view P.

CMP-2OBS-2CMP-2 compared with 88 catalogued hooks classified Round / Kendal
PointStandard / Spear
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A small, short, low barb is cut into the point, set back from the tip P. The packet prints BARBED P; the maker lists a small barb V.

OBS-4LBL-7SRC-1
Finishstated on packaging
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The packet prints BLACK NICKEL FINISH P. The specimen is glossy black with fine bright flecks along the upper shank and the bend P.

LBL-8OBS-6
ConstructionBarbless

Single-point hook. On the photographed size 12 specimen the shank is straight and plain, with no ridges, slices or kinks visible P. Shank length falls in the standard category I, and a retailer calls it regular length V.

The point is long, slender and straight, conical in profile, with no hollow or needle section visible P. The maker lists sizes 10 through 20 V.

Measurements

Per size, with how each dimension was taken
SizeOverall lengthShank lengthGap widthBend depthWire diameterWeight
12Specimen S113.7 mm EcaliperMEA-110.6 mm EcaliperMEA-24.7 mm EcaliperMEA-3—0.5 mm EcaliperMEA-4—
Calibrated SVG True-scale preview

How hook dimensions are measuredA hook outline with dimension lines for overall length, shank length, gap, bend depth, and wire diameter.Overall lengthShank lengthGapBend depthWire diameter
Overall length
Eye to the farthest point of the bend.
Shank length
Eye to the start of the bend.
Gap
Point to shank, at right angles to the shank.
Bend depth
Shank to the bottom of the bend.
Wire diameter
Across the wire, measured by caliper where possible.

Specimens, packaging, and label

This record documents one specimen. It describes that specimen only, not every example of the model.

Front of an Ahrex FW502 size 12 packet with the blue AHREX banner, a red strip and the line Dry Fly Light Barbed.
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Back of an Ahrex FW502 size 12 packet showing the maker's text, a barcode and a four-language sharpness warning.
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S1 · Size 12 packet and hook

Size
12 (printed on the label)
Container
Packet
Hook condition
Intact, with no visible rust, bends or breaks; light bright flecks on the black finish (P).
Packaging condition
Good — moderate wear, legible
Wear
front, top edge: Top edge torn and serrated across its width; a small torn flap stands up at the top-left corner. LBL-17
Wear
back, top edge and top-right corner: Top edge ragged and serrated; a dark creased or folded patch at the top-right corner. LBL-18
Wear
back, middle text block and barcode area: Faint horizontal fold line across the middle text block; two small brown specks, one left of the barcode digits and one on the rule above the warning text. LBL-19
Wear
front, top right: Ink blotching on the 4 of 24 PCS.; the black overprinted fields (FW502, SIZE 12, 24 PCS., DRY FLY LIGHT BARBED) have rough ink edges. LBL-20
Measured
size 12
Photographs
IMG-1IMG-2IMG-3

The hook photograph shows a size 12 hook but not the hook in or on the packet, so the pairing rests on the file name and the packet's size label I.
Packet damage: top edge torn and serrated across its width, with a small torn flap at the top-left of the front; dark crease at the top-right of the back; faint horizontal fold across the back text; two small brown specks on the back; ink blotching on the 4 of 24 PCS. P.

What the label says

LBL-1 printed · front, top left from IMG-3
FW502
LBL-2 printed · front, top centre from IMG-3
SIZE 12
LBL-3 printed · front, top right from IMG-3
24 PCS.
LBL-4 trademark · front, blue banner from IMG-3
AHREX
LBL-5 printed · front, red strip under the logo from IMG-3
CHEMICALLY SHARPENED FLY HOOKS
LBL-6 printed · front, centre, grey heading from IMG-3
FRESHWATER SERIES
LBL-7 printed · front, centre, black bold line from IMG-3
DRY FLY LIGHT BARBED
LBL-8 printed · front, centre, below model name from IMG-3
BLACK NICKEL FINISH
LBL-9 printed · front, bottom blue band from IMG-3
WWW.AHREXHOOKS.COM
LBL-10 printed · back, upper text block from IMG-2
Fly tying hooks without compromise
Ahrex fly hooks are designed by Scandi-
navian anglers for flyfishing all over the
world. Ahrex hooks are made with cutting
edge technology and the best materials
available for each specific hook.
All hooks are chemically sharpened.
LBL-11 printed · back, middle text block from IMG-2
Share your flies with us
We would like to see your flies.
Please upload your masterpieces at our
Facebook page or share them on Instagram.
LBL-12 printed · back, below middle block from IMG-2
Happy fly tying The Ahrex team
LBL-13 printed · back, barcode digits from IMG-2
0 23534 44795 0
LBL-14 printed · back, yellow warning triangle left of the warning text from IMG-2
!
LBL-15 printed · back, lower warning block under the rule from IMG-2
DK Advarsel: Ekstremt skarpe! Håndter med omhu.
ENG Warning: Extremely sharp! Handle with care.
FR Attention: Extrêmement forte ! Manipuler avec soin.
DE Achtung: Extrem scharf ! Mit Vorsicht behandeln.
LBL-16 printed · back, bottom blue band from IMG-2
WWW.AHREXHOOKS.COM
Trademark
Stylized angular white block-letter AHREX wordmark with blue edge highlights on a textured blue banner across the upper front; a red strip below carries the tagline in white letters with yellow outline.
As entered on the specimen record
FW502
SIZE 12
24 PCS.
AHREX
CHEMICALLY SHARPENED FLY HOOKS
FRESHWATER SERIES
DRY FLY LIGHT BARBED
BLACK NICKEL FINISH
WWW.AHREXHOOKS.COM

Fly tying hooks without compromise
Ahrex fly hooks are designed by Scandi-
navian anglers for flyfishing all over the
world. Ahrex hooks are made with cutting
edge technology and the best materials
available for each specific hook.
All hooks are chemically sharpened.
Share your flies with us
We would like to see your flies.
Please upload your masterpieces at our
Facebook page or share them on Instagram.
Happy fly tying The Ahrex team
0 23534 44795 0
!
DK Advarsel: Ekstremt skarpe! Håndter med omhu.
ENG Warning: Extremely sharp! Handle with care.
FR Attention: Extrêmement forte ! Manipuler avec soin.
DE Achtung: Extrem scharf ! Mit Vorsicht behandeln.
WWW.AHREXHOOKS.COM
Layout
Front: model code, size and count in a top row; blue banner with the wordmark; red strip with the tagline; series, model name and finish lines below; web address in a blue band at the foot. Back: maker's text above, then the barcode digits, a warning triangle with four language lines, and the web address in a blue band P.
Typeface
The wordmark is in angular block capitals. FW502, SIZE 12, 24 PCS. and DRY FLY LIGHT BARBED are black overprinted capitals with rough ink edges P.
Printed marks
Yellow warning triangle with an exclamation mark above the warning lines; barcode with the digits 0 23534 44795 0.

Pattern history and manufacturer context

Series

The packet heads this hook FRESHWATER SERIES P. The maker’s website groups it with its barbed FW hooks V.

Design lineage

Retailer text describes the FW502 as a lighter-wire version of the FW500/501 dry fly hooks V. It gives no wire diameter for either, so the difference is not recorded in figures.

Ahrex — The packet text says Ahrex hooks are designed by Scandinavian anglers and that all of them are chemically sharpened P. Read the maker’s history →

Use

  • Dry fly

Primary application

Dry flies, as the packet’s DRY FLY LIGHT BARBED line indicates P.

Collecting and buying

1 / 10CollectabilityRarity: Common

Still listed by its maker and described by retailers, so it is easy to find V. Nothing in the evidence records collector demand beyond use.

Basis: Listed on the maker's website and described on two retailer pages V. No discontinuation, catalog change or count of surviving examples is recorded.

The model is listed in the maker’s catalog and on retailer pages V. Nothing in the evidence records a discontinuation, a change in the catalog or sold results, so the rating rests on availability alone.

No sold sales are recorded for this model, so no value range is shown.

Where to find

New packets of 24 are listed by retailers such as Thorne Bros and adh-fishing, and on the maker's website V.

Modern equivalents and related hooks

Best matchRelated by Attribute

Computed automatically from catalog data — updated as new hooks are added.

SilhouetteHook ModelMatchAnalysisCompare
FW503 No. 12 — Dry Fly Light Barbless silhouetteFW503 No. 12 — Dry Fly Light Barbless94%Matches: Bend, Shank, Wire, Gap, Eye +7 moreDiffers: Shank ratio: 77.4% vs 75.0%; Gap ratio: 34.3% vs 34.6%; Wire index: 3.7% vs 4.4%Compare
FW501 No. 12 — Dry Fly Trad. Barbless silhouetteFW501 No. 12 — Dry Fly Trad. Barbless83%Matches: Shank, Wire, Gap, Eye, Eye Orient. +6 moreDiffers: Bend: Round / Kendal vs Perfect; Shank ratio: 77.4% vs 76.7%; Gap ratio: 34.3% vs 36.8% +1 moreCompare
E6A No. 10 — E6A 4X Fine Short Length Down Eye Hooks silhouetteE6A No. 10 — E6A 4X Fine Short Length Down Eye Hooks80%Matches: Bend, Wire, Gap, Eye, Eye Orient. +4 moreDiffers: Shank: Standard vs Short (1X–2X Short); Finish: Other vs Bronzed; Forging: Round vs Forged +2 moreCompare
FW500 No. 12 — Dry Fly Traditional silhouetteFW500 No. 12 — Dry Fly Traditional79%Matches: Shank, Gap, Eye, Eye Orient., Point +4 moreDiffers: Bend: Round / Kendal vs Perfect; Wire: Standard vs Heavy (1X Heavy); Barb: Barbless vs Barbed +3 moreCompare
Nyack TDE — Nyack TDE (Down Tapered Eye) silhouetteNyack TDE — Nyack TDE (Down Tapered Eye)79%Matches: Bend, Shank, Wire, Gap, Eye +6 moreDiffers: Finish: Other vs Bronzed; Application: Dry Fly vs Dry Fly, Wet Fly, Nymph; Barb: Barbless vs Barbed +2 moreCompare

ExploratoryRelated by Shape (SVG)

Ranked purely by silhouette geometry — attribute labels are ignored.

SilhouetteHook ModelMatchCompare
FW503 No. 12 — Dry Fly Light Barbless silhouetteFW503 No. 12 — Dry Fly Light Barbless84%Compare
R50 No. 10 — Signature silhouetteR50 No. 10 — Signature78%Compare
94840 No. 10 — Mustad 94840 silhouette94840 No. 10 — Mustad 9484067%Compare
L2A No. 10 — Captain Hamilton Medium Weight Wet Fly Hook silhouetteL2A No. 10 — Captain Hamilton Medium Weight Wet Fly Hook66%Compare
Blue Label 2x Fine TDE No. 14 — Blue Label silhouetteBlue Label 2x Fine TDE No. 14 — Blue Label66%Compare

Sources, open questions, and record notes

Sources & Documentation

This specimen and its packaging — photographed, 3 images
Supports: bendeyebarbfinishsub brandquantity per packagesize documentedpackagingmeasurements availablemeasurement notesoverall lengthshank lengthgap widthwire diameter measuredmanufacturer period contextfun factfun fact titlemeta titlemeta descriptionprimary search termssummaryseries historyprimary applicationidentificationtechnical notes

Entry last updated October 27, 2026. Entries are updated as new specimens, measurements, or documents come to light.