12-02-2006, 11:13 PM
Bead chain for eyes have been used for years on flies and are quite effective. it is a in good expensive way to get eyes and a little weight. Try coloring the bead with a sharpie or some other water proof colored pen.
I have always figured that the lead and tungsten barbell eyes came around after people started using bead chain and figured that people needed haevier weights for some flys.
The lead and brass eyes are excellent for getting the down deep in quick order and giving the fly more radical jigging movement.
Tie the fly near the eye of the hook and it will make a more radical dip when you pause. Tying the eyes on towards the center of the fly and the fly will tend to decent in a more level and slower motion.
Tying the bead onto the hook point side of the shank will tend to keep the fly moving with the hook point down. Tying the bead onto the top side of the shank will tend to cause the fly to flip so that the hook is riding up on top. It will depend on the weight of the hook bend vs the weight of the eyes and the dynamics of the other materials in the water plus the materials weight distribution.
With lead and brass barbell eyes the hook is mostlikely going to ride with the eyes below the shank no matter what side of the shank you tie it on. This is because the weight of the eye will probably be more than weight of the other materials and the hook combined.
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I have always figured that the lead and tungsten barbell eyes came around after people started using bead chain and figured that people needed haevier weights for some flys.
The lead and brass eyes are excellent for getting the down deep in quick order and giving the fly more radical jigging movement.
Tie the fly near the eye of the hook and it will make a more radical dip when you pause. Tying the eyes on towards the center of the fly and the fly will tend to decent in a more level and slower motion.
Tying the bead onto the hook point side of the shank will tend to keep the fly moving with the hook point down. Tying the bead onto the top side of the shank will tend to cause the fly to flip so that the hook is riding up on top. It will depend on the weight of the hook bend vs the weight of the eyes and the dynamics of the other materials in the water plus the materials weight distribution.
With lead and brass barbell eyes the hook is mostlikely going to ride with the eyes below the shank no matter what side of the shank you tie it on. This is because the weight of the eye will probably be more than weight of the other materials and the hook combined.
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