Tying with beads and lead.

All about flies Fly Tying
1

Do you guys also use some lead wraps when tying a nymph with a brass bead head?

Every fly fisherman has an unreasonable view of fly rods, and I am no different. Thomas McGuane

Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anquish. Prov 31:6

2

Hi anglerdave,

The short answer is “no.” I add weight based on the sink rate I want. Sometimes the weight of the bead is enough and other times I add extra weight via lead wire or additional beads. Take care & …

Tight Lines - Al Beatty [url=http://www.btsflyfishing.com:90343]www.btsflyfishing.com[/url:90343]

3

Al

Thanks for your quick reply. Makes sense to me. I just started tying using brass beads.

Every fly fisherman has an unreasonable view of fly rods, and I am no different. Thomas McGuane

Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anquish. Prov 31:6

4

I never use lead wraps and a bead together. I feel it just gives too much weight to the fly and will restrict the flies’ movement. A friend of mine, who owns the local fly shop, will use the two together on some of his larger flies and claims those flies are for the deeper water that has real swift water going through it and he is trying to get the fly down quicker. I have been know to put a bead on and then 2 wraps of lead wire that I shove up in the cavity of the bead to keep it in place, but, I do not do this very often. Since I use a 4 weight most of the time, I will either use a bead or lead wraps but not together on the same fly. I have more flies with lead wraps under the body than flies with beads. Just a personal thing with me. I am not real fond of bead heads. I am sure you will get many different responses to your question. Do what works for you in your water and gives you an enjoyable day on the water and that is all that counts.

Warren

5

I use both beads and lead quite often. Not always but often. Most of the rivers I fish I want my nymph to get down fast and stay down. I never use lead on size 18 and smaller becasue I just dont think there is enough room. On 16 and larger I will not hesitate to use lead and a bead. I usually fish with a two fly set-up with the heavier fly on top.

Born to fish forced to work.
Alan

6

It depends. A copper john uses lead and a bead. Some of the patterns I tie with both, although most are either or. I’ll dual weight some of my salmon/steelhead flies for faster water, but generally, I prefer to use just a bead.

7

On some of the larger hooks with larger beads I will use a little wire of some sort to fill in the gap in the back side of the bead. That way the bead does not wear as much on the thread at the front of the fly, ie less movmeent.

Rick

8

I use weight with weighted beads, on nymph fly patterns, but I do not use lead in the fly construction.

A thin diameter of non-lead weight, helps to center the bead. I wrote an article in “Tying Tips” demonstrating the procedure…

[url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part126.html:1f370]Centering Beaded Heads[/url:1f370]

I sometimes use additional wraps of non-lead wire to balance the weight distribution on the shank of the fly hook.

This is to allow the dressed fly moment below the water surface. Allowing the fly to raise and lower evenly in the water column. Versus rising and diving, as the line is retrieved in short take-ups.

~Parnelli

[This message has been edited by Steven H. McGarthwaite (edited 10 July 2006).]

9

Has anyone studied the weight differences of a tungston beaded fly with no lead wrap vs. say a brass beaded fly with a wrap or 2 of lead stuffed into the bead?

Was just wondering if they would be close in weight since the tungston is heavier than the brass.

Any thoughts?

Thanks too for the tip Stephen! I’ve been using your suggestion and it works very well.

Thanks,
Terry

10

Anglerdave,

I almost always use at least 4 or 5 wraps of lead wire to help hold the bead in place. A good covering of thread over the lead wire insures that the bead will stay in place and tight. It’s just my preference and I’m sure others will disagree. 8T

You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it’s a real short camping season.

11

Terry B: I remember a the topic of the different specific gravity (weight) of different materials, in relation to each other, for comparison on use on flies. I will search for the topic in the “Archives”

~Parnelli

12

8T, I’m with you. Just a bead drops the fly fairly slowly in most current situations where I fish. Wrapping 4-5 turns of small lead wire that will fit inside the back of the bead gets it in fishing position more quickly as well as centering the bead on the hook.

Bill

Name indicates where I fish and for what I fish.