I searched around a bit here and was able to find some old threads on painting lead dumbell eyes, but none of them really mentioned whether they thought it made a difference.
So, opinions please!!
Does painting dumbell eyes for clouser-type flies and other streamers increase the effectiveness of the fly?
If so, what colors do YOU think works better? (do you match the color of hair you’re using or try to pattern a specific baitfish?)
In many cases painted eyes make the fly look more realistic.
Fish often target the head area on baitfish imitations, so being able to SEE the eyes gives a good target. An obvious black pupil, surrounded by some bright-colored “iris”…like yellow or chartreuse, can be very good.
Check out the yellowish iris on this otherwise silvery-white shad (I did not take this picture)…
That being said…I use both painted eyes, and unpainted eyes on my flies. I’m too lazy to try painting bead-chain eyes, but will often use painted hourglass or dumbell eyes.
As far as what I THINK would work best…since you want the eye to “stand-out” in order to act as a target, I would imagine that a CONTRASTING color would work better towards that goal, than would a color that blends in with the rest of the fly.
JMO…