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Eyes, beads, and cones - history, usage, tying and fishing weighted flies.
Adding metal to your flies - for looks and weight
By Martin Joergensen
Rows of eyes
I use a lot of bead chain eyes in my patterns. They have several advantages - but unfortunately several disadvantages too.
Like many other fly tying materials these bead chains are not made for tying flies, but are used for several other purposes amongst which holding bath tub plugs, roller ball pens and keys are the most common.
The chains should be widely available, and most hardware stores or locksmiths have them. But getting them in the smallest sizes can be a problem. Many fly shops pack small pieces of chain of appropriate sizes, These are unfortunately sold at some hefty prices, but can be a last resort.
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Bead chains: inexpensive and easy to use. Adds weight and good looks.
They come in many different sizes.
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Flies with eyes:
Magnus
Bjarke
Fair Fly
Crazy Dane
Flies with beads:
Flashback Prince
Nymph
Bead Head Scud
Goldkopf nymph
Flies with cones:
Coney flies
FMJNM
Magnus cone
Further reading:
The history
of the bead head
Bead chain eyes
Monofilament eyes
Pearl eyes
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Some advantages of these eyes are:
- Very eye like
- Shiny and stainless
- Inexpensive
- Easy to handle
- Adds a little weight but not too much
The disadvantages are:
- Sometimes too light
- Often has sharp edges that can cut tying thread
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