GFF logo







   

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.

Bead chains: inexpensive and easy to use. Adds weight and good looks.
They come in many different sizes.
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

 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


Want to comment this page? Fill out the form below.
Comment
Only comments
in English
are accepted!
Your name Your email
Notify me on new comments to this article on the above email-address.
You don't have to comment to start or stop notifications.
We excuse for any errors or inconvenience caused by this service, which has new features still in an experimental state. In case of faults, please notify Martin at martin@globalflyfisher.com, and explain the problem, and we will try to fix it as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience

All comments will be screened by the GFF staff before publication.
No HTML, images, ads or links, please - we do not publish such comments...
And only English language comments will be published.
Name and email is optional but recommended.
The email will be shown in a disguised form in the final comment to protect you against spam
You can see other public comments on this page

 
Did you find the above interesting?
People who looked at the above also looked at:

Tie Better

Section: Improve your fly tying and learn new, neat tricks with materials

Fly patterns

Section: The best fly patterns from all over the globe

Bonefish Bitters

Martin started using the Bonefish Bitters while fishing on his own in Mexico. He writes: "I continued using my Bitters and caught many more fish on them the following days. After two weeks of fishing I felt like a champion and was very satisfied with myself."

The Real Rag Worm

Every year in March and April the rag worms emerge from the bottom to secure the next generation. They swim freely in the water, wiggling from one side to the other. Sea gulls feed on the from above and many fish species seem to focus on them from beneath.

Hillbilly Copper John

The most sought after pattern on GFF's search page is John Barr's more than excellent nymph pattern the Copper John. Martin Joergensen describes his version here: how to tie it and fish it. And adds its hillbilly kin the much simpler Copper Joe.
A few random articles for your entertainment