Common Types of Hook Eyes:

Ringed Eye: An eye in which the wire diameter is constant and forms a circle perpendicular to the plane of the hook itself. The ball eye may be closed or open. The closed kind is tempered and therefore stronger; the open eye is usually found on cheap hooks.

Brazed Eye: The gap of the eye of this hook is brazed to the hook shank. It makes a very strong eye, and one which will not cut the leader or line. Big-game hooks are usually brazed to ensure maximum strength.

Tapered Eye: On a 'tapered' ring, the thickness of the wire is reduced. I t gradually tapers towards the end of the ring. This is done to reduce the weight of the hook and make it effective for dry-fly use.

Looped Eye: The wire in the eye of the hoop runs back along the shank toward the rear of the hook. The end of this wire is usually tapered, although it can also be made untapered. Looped-eye hooks are traditionally used in making salmon wet flies.

Needle Eye: So called because it is similar to the eye found on a needle. One advantage of the needle eye is that it may be easily strung through a natural bait without fouling. It is also strong.

Flattened Eye: As an alternative to the eye, "Spade End" hooks are used. The end of the
shank is flattened, and the fishing line is snelled/tied directly to the shank of the hook. The flattened area stops the knot from sliding off the hook. The flattened eye is used for medium-sized species in commercial fishing. Where natural bait, such as seaworm, is used, a hook may possess
no eye at all, but simply a flattened end. Spade end hooks are extensively used by match anglers.

	Turned Up:	the eye is turned up from the shank
	Turned Down:	the eye is turned down from the shank
	Parallel:	the eye is parallel to the hook bend