Steelheading Gear Talk Part 1 - Weight for flies March 26 2024, 0 Comments
Steelheaders are a funny bunch. We deliberate over so many different things, when in fact there are only a few things that really matter. When it comes down to it, its all about getting the fly in the right place at the right time. Steelhead will eat more or less anything, and often have, so fly selection should be based more on weight than anything. Getting the fly to where the fish are is paramount, and can be achieved in a number of ways. What Ive found requires the least amount of work is to start with an intermediate sink tip and simply vary the weight of the fly. Unweighted and weighted patterns. 95% of the time, the fly could all be the same pattern. Most people choose to use dumbbell eyes to weight, given they both add weight and provide a trigger point to the fish to induce a strike. Lead eyes, brass eyes, tungsten eyes, bead chain eyes, and of course beads. They all work and all serve different purposes.
In a nutshell, if you want to make sure your fly rides a particular way, put dumbbell eyes on it. If you just want weight, either eyes or a bead.
We try to avoid lead wraps for weight as it doesn't offer the trigger point eyes or beads do.
Good eyes can be found about anywhere. Weve selected a few that we think are a little unique and offer them at wholesale prices. An assortment of different colour metallic brass eyes and beads. Check them out at our site:
That little extra flash doesnt hurt, and will help get your flies to where they need to be.
When it comes to colour, try to stick to the theme of your fly. Remember that the darker colours such as blue, black, purple as more visible to the fish. A large orange brass bead tied on an egg sucking leech pattern is about as deadly as it gets, and only takes a minute to tie. Not that sexy, but it works.
Be sure to check back with us for the next in the series of steelhead gear Fly storage!