01-27-2009, 04:24 PM
Most metal beads are brass coated with something to give it some kind of color besides brass.
Some metal beads are copper but many times the ones listed as copper are referring to the color but actually are brass plated with copper. Not a big difference in weight either way but can be a difference in price.
Relatively new to the market are tungsten beads. They are more dense than brass so they get the fly down faster for a given bead size. This can be an advantage in strong currents or deep water. Tungsten is a lot more expensive than brass. Which is more expensive than glass.
As Dry Rod said glass comes in many colors but you can generally get more sparkle or brightness with glass beads than with metal beads
Oh, and then sometimes plastic beads are used. Particularily when doing an egg pattern.
The opinions of what is best is all over the map including no weight at all.
A lot of is off of what is important to you for that fly and what you have on hand. I mostly go with what I have on hand which generally is not the exact one I would have preferred.
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Some metal beads are copper but many times the ones listed as copper are referring to the color but actually are brass plated with copper. Not a big difference in weight either way but can be a difference in price.
Relatively new to the market are tungsten beads. They are more dense than brass so they get the fly down faster for a given bead size. This can be an advantage in strong currents or deep water. Tungsten is a lot more expensive than brass. Which is more expensive than glass.
As Dry Rod said glass comes in many colors but you can generally get more sparkle or brightness with glass beads than with metal beads
Oh, and then sometimes plastic beads are used. Particularily when doing an egg pattern.
The opinions of what is best is all over the map including no weight at all.
A lot of is off of what is important to you for that fly and what you have on hand. I mostly go with what I have on hand which generally is not the exact one I would have preferred.
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