beads and barbell

[deltadave 0]

I started tying flies this winter. I watched some videos and tied some flies. Now I want to use some beads and barbells eyes, so I went to the store to get some beads and barbell eyes. Now here is my problem:Hooks are sold by size 20,18,16, ... and beads and eyes are fractional size. So how do you match them up? How do know that the bead will slide over the barb of the hook? How about the barbell eyes how do you size those to the hooks? Any info will help. Thank you

[skidoosh 0]

I started tying flies this winter. I watched some videos and tied some flies. Now I want to use some beads and barbells eyes, so I went to the store to get some beads and barbell eyes. Now here is my problem:Hooks are sold by size 20,18,16, ... and beads and eyes are fractional size. So how do you match them up? How do know that the bead will slide over the barb of the hook? How about the barbell eyes how do you size those to the hooks? Any info will help. Thank you

 

There is not an easy answer because there is not standardization. It depends how deep you want your fly to go. On a size 3366 Mustad size 6 you could hang any dumbell. I usually go with a mid size because I don't want to chuck something that heavy on a 5 wt.

 

As for beads there are some bead charts- for both proportion is what you want to look for.

[flytire 0]

there is this pinned at the top of the beginners page

 

http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php?showtopic=16199

 

or

 

GOOGLE 'bead to hook" charts and then bookmark your favorite from the search

 

for barbell eyes, i do not know of a chart (doesnt mean theres none out there on the web)

[kentuckytroutbum 0]

JStockard's catalog has a bead chart on their bead page. Also, the back flap on some beads have a chart also, along with the pinned thread on this forum.

 

On barbell eyes, you have to look at the proportions in relation to the size of the fly, and as others have said, the weight needs to be considered.

[ditz2 0]

I would suggest that you start small with the dumbbell eyes. They are not fun to cast as the size gets larger. I hate to cast the heavy ones and would rather go fishless than cast those damn things even on my 8wt.

[deltadave 0]

I started tying flies this winter. I watched some videos and tied some flies. Now I want to use some beads and barbells eyes, so I went to the store to get some beads and barbell eyes. Now here is my problem:Hooks are sold by size 20,18,16, ... and beads and eyes are fractional size. So how do you match them up? How do know that the bead will slide over the barb of the hook? How about the barbell eyes how do you size those to the hooks? Any info will help. Thank you

I want to thank you for the replies. they are helpful. Funny thing though when I logged-on this morning I found another thread that was very helpful. For you flytire your Joe's hopper was the first fly I tried on this sight. If i remember right you posted a video of this fly that was very helpful. Thanks all