Eyes of Epoxy

@Rob Jacoby · rjacoby·at·menindevelopment.com

Re: reflective amber eyes

Here's a source for bronze and orange silver lined 11/0 seed beads. Size 11/0 is about 1.8 mm in diameter.

@Rob Jacoby · rjacoby·at·menindevelopment.com

Re: reflective amber eyes

I'd try silver lined amber seed beads slipped on mono diameter they'll fit over. Heat the ends slightly so they won't slide off and them dip in the epoxy. Try a craft store like Michaels.

Hello from South Florida, USA,

Has anyone heard of a process of cementing reflective beads to the stalks of the mono, then applying the epoxy finish? I bought some beautiful amber epoxy eyes on the internet which reflect sunlight and absolutely drive larger bonefish wild. Unfortunately, I can not get them anymore. The fly shop where I purchased the eyes lost their source, but told me this is how their supplier made them. Would I get the same effect by applying amber model paint to the stalk before the melting process? I have tried "store-bought" Puglisi eyes in a red painted "flat" finish, but they do not have the same effect on the the fish. Thank you!!

Hello Kasper and everyone in the room. "GFF" was as I remember the very first site of this nature I found after purchasing my first PC in 2000. I was, according to my wife, in need of professional help, as I was so addicted, staying awake all hours drinking and smoking and GFF. Yes I was truly off the thin line. This is not my fault for others have led me astray. So much for that. Thank you Kasper ,this was again such a fine article.I'm sending my arm over to you with a large hug for you. Tom.G.

You can color the epoxy with acrylic paint, doesn't take much. You can blend several acrylic colors together to make your own colors.

Hi guys just get clothes pins those that look like this -----------o then color them with hard as nails polish, cut them to lenght.Have a block of foam and stick them to dry, they are cheap and fast to make.
Gustavo.

is there anyone that knows where i can buy premade eyes? Please a netdite that ships to europe

As a couple of tiers mentioned I melt both ends of 30lb nylon with a lighter to get a pair of eyes. When the ends are cool, I dip them in black head cement and let them dry and repeat. Eyes look great, but it takes a while. Think I;ll try some of the variations mentioned here.

I colour the nylon line with black pen FIRST, then melt it you get a little black ball on the enmd of clear mono.
Then coat the eye in tuffleye (www.wetahook.net) - sets in seconds with the UV light a quick dab of clear nail polish to end and you're done. I've completed a set of eyes in 20 seconds.

Great comments guys.
I saw an article [source?] on eyes and will pass it on. You need boiling water and ice water. Take a 100 # Mono and wrap it a dozen times around 1/4" or larger wooden dowel. Hold it tight and dip it into the boiling water for 10-20 seconds [maybe longer, can't remember] -- then dip it into the ice water!! The Mono will take the shape of a coiled spring as it hardens. Now cut one "Coil", hold with hemostats, seperate a little and melt ends for the eye balls. If you do it correctly, it will melt back and you will have two eyes -- on the end of a "horse shoe." Mount the center of the horseshoe on your hook and you have two big beautiful eyes looking back at you!!! Go fish.
Keep on innovating.
Keep your line wet.
In His Love,
Clyde

I use a pair of hemostats & use a lighter to burn both ends & make a pair at a time

looks like this O---O works very well on spent mayflies, shrimp or almost any nymph critter

I think, if you use an alcohol burner, you could obtain clear ball shapes (sorry for my written English)

HI KASPER love eyes on my shrimp flies it just makes them more realistic,i melt 25pound nylon and burn ends with my lighter,they cool at once and are ready for use in seconds, but always crimp the stalks between a pair of pliers before tyinging in to make them very secure.

very nice,been useing burnt nylon eyes on crayfish patterns since 1976.can't be beat!

Hi Kasper,
New to this and had a ball playing with eyes today. Out of desperation pulled mono off old fishing pole and used clear nail polish just so that i could make one of the shimps with real eyes. Thanks, still trying to learn terms and hooks types love the art of tying dont even have a rod yet:)

Kasper, fantastic fly. I've never responded to anyone before, but here I felt I had to. This fly is so easy to tie. Mind you I had to go out and buy a new pair of reading glasses to see what I'm doing. Ha, Ha. Can't wait to get out on the water.

Anthony, Acton Ontario Canada

Kasper,
The Honey Shrimp and eyes articles (and the Mysis Shrimp) are superb, thank you. Have just made myself a little drying rack for painted eye-stalks - and for the epoxied eyes when I get that far. Just a small piece of wood with two lines of holes 1.5mm diameter. Works a treat. Dip each stalk-end in the paint and pop it in the rack to dry. 14 eyes all looking at me - scary!

Thanks again.
Les

Hi Kasper, good stuff. Any fly needs its eyes to see, of course :))) I intend to experiment with some epoxy material also, what exactly was the material you have used? ....just to make sure I´ll ask for the right thing when shopping in danish fishing shops :)

Made some myself. They really work well for shrimp flies and crank baits("Lures")