What do you folks do about the holes in the bead after it is cut? Do you plug the holes and paint them or just leave them as they are?
Thanks for your help,
Floyd
I leave them as they are. I don;t seem to have any problems with rust and the fish sure don’t seem to notice. I’ve gotten so simplier is better for me.
Jim Smith
I leave the hole as-is…gives you a pupil effect for no extra effort…
pretty hard to paint a hole :D:D
Agree with all the above…especially Normand:roll:
“Bed Chain Eyes”…darn …I thought this was going to be about some sort of night time activity:rolleyes:
Sorry Duck…icw the nightime activity…I just never got into the chain thing.
Another vote for ‘leave them be’.
The fish don’t seem to care.
Buddy
I knew I would get some ideas. I tried using thicker paint but it kept falling of the trowel.
ummm, night time activities,
floyd
If you just want to plug the eyes for the heck of it, maybe a bit of 5 min epoxy or even the really thick super glues (the “gap filling” stuff sold at woodworking shops).
Or maybe some of the fabric paint that was being used for fly bodies in another thread…fills the holes and gives you a bit of glitter at the same time. 
I just paint the beads black with nail polish and the hole looks like a small pupil, i suppose i could paint a tiny yellow ring around the hole to highlight it, but…, that’s a bit fiddly and it looks okay with out.
mmmmmmmmm…night time activity…mmmmmmmmm – now we are talking night fishing here aren’t we??? hehehehehehe…
Jeanne
Don’t plug 'em…the water filling the beads adds to the wiggle.
I also leave them open. I think it has a “deer whistle” effect in the water. I never have to worry about getting too much fish slime on my flies this way! :lol:
I leave um and I still catch fish. they don’t care I don’t think.
If you wanted a fast way to add that yellow ring, I would expect that a pencil erase dipped in the yellow paint then lightly touched to the bead chain would give you an instant ring.
Press harder for a wider ring or really light for a thin ring…
Hey Thwack - that’s a great idea! thanks!!!
Jeanne
Why would you plug them? The idea is, that they fill with water, for additional weight and then, when you pick them up, to make the next cast, they drain and are easier to cast. They’re a nice alternative to lead eyes.
Didn’t know that’s was why pspaint, thanks for that.
Jeanne
I had not heard that either…interesting…for the sake of accuracy enlighten me…the beads are metal so heavier than water…when the water goes in I guess the beads will be heavier than when air is in them…when the water goes in they will be heavier than they were but …water neutral…I doubt if it’s significant???
i think there will still be air in the bead eyes as long as it falls horizontal
however, if you wanted to fill them, it would make them heavier but reduce any rattle they have
Jordan