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Example of
Eyes:
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Anchovy eye
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Bunker eye
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Silverside eye
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Silverside eye
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Sand lance eye
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Articles:
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articles
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The Use of Eyes in Fly Tying
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A tyer's
hodgepodge of eyes
(click on image
to enlarge)
.
The use of eyes
in fly tying is not new, however, as the
sport of fly fishing and its twin fly tying
have gained momentum through the years many
more choices are available to the fly tyer. Below is a sampling of the most commonly
used eyes in fly tying along with
suggestions for their use. As the use of
eyes in fly tying is an evolving field this
article will evolve as well with updates
from time to time.
.
Attachment -
Different eyes require different ingenuity
when it comes to attaching them. In some
cases specific attachment suggestions will
be discussed below, however these are some
generalities:
.
Tape eyes -
Typically epoxied over once attached.
.
3D eyes - Press
into tacky epoxy (do not coat) or apply
Zap-A-Gap CA+ and press into fly.
.
Dumbbell eyes -
This includes all variants and bead chain
eyes. Normal tying thread is preferred to uni-mono for the following characteristics:
cinches tighter without recoil and holds
glue better. Start with a good thread base,
perform the normal figure-eight wraps but
also wrap under and completely around the
eye and above the hook to cinch-in the
figure-eight wraps. Cut thread, apply
Zap-A-Gap CA+ and spray with Zip Kicker. Epoxy can also be added once the fly is
complete.
.
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Unweighted:
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Painted eyes
- Painted eyes are arguably the
easiest and least expensive of
all the eyes to make. The
process involves applying a
black pupil to any one of a
number of paint colors for the
iris, typically yellow, red or
white. The painted eye
normally covers the head wraps
of the fly. Complete iris
and pupil circles are
accomplished with a hobby brush,
toothpick or nail head.
The entire eye and remaining
unpainted head wraps |
Painted eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
are covered
with clear head cement or epoxy. Painted
eyes typically are used on Deceivers, Zonkers, Thunder Creek Series Shiners,
poppers, tarpon flies and some smelt
patterns.
.
Feather (jungle
cock or painted) - The Jungle cock feather
is used as a simple impressionistic means
for providing an eye. Jungle cock feather
eyes are typically used for Ghost streamers,
small trout imitations, flat wings and some
salmon hairwing patterns. Painted feathers
use the process as described above under
"Painted". The iris and pupil are applied to
a feather. In most cases the feather is
prepped by first applying a thin coat of
glue to the area where the eye will be
painted. The glue prevents the feather from
splitting under heavy use. Painted feathers
serve as both a place for the eye and as a
gill plate. Mallard or wood duck feathers
are commonly used. Both jungle cock and
painted feathers are normally the last item
tied in and reside close to the eye of the
hook.
.
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Die-cut patterns
(gill plates and fake jungle cock) -
Probably the best known use for
die-cut patterns is demonstrated
by Page Roger's Big Eye Baitfish
patterns. Page uses
prismatic gill plates to mount
stick-on eyes. Due to the high
cost of quality jungle cock
necks (at times over $200.00 per
neck) and sometimes questionable
availability, imitations have
been made.The imitation jungle
cock is used in the same manner
as |
Die-cut patterns
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
the real feather
and is described above under "Feather".As with feathers, die-cut
patterns are normally the last item tied in
and reside close to the eye of the fly.
.
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Tape eyes - Tape
eyes are widely available, come in many
colors and a range of sizes. Tape eyes can
be applied to feathers, die-cut patterns,
popper bodies, Sili-Skin, epoxy, Loco Foam,
Spirit River's Real Eyes, Deep Sea eyes,
Jiggy eyes and Cross-eyed Cone eyes just to
name a few. Tape eyes are
attached by simply removing from
the tape and using their own
sticky adhesive to apply to the
desired location. A thin
coat of epoxy is then |
Tape eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
applied. In certain cases it may be
desirable to place a very small drop of a
glue (Zap-A-Gap CA+) to the adhesive-side of
the eye prior to placement. Tape eyes are
widely used in many commercially available
patterns due to their inexpensive cost
relative to other choices, durability once
coated with epoxy, ease of use and they're
light which makes the fly easier to cast. Typically tape eyes are used on Gummy
Minnows, Crease Flies, Mushmouths, Surf
Candies, poppers and Dougherty's Tube flies.
.
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Mono eyes - Mono
eyes are used in both freshwater and
saltwater patterns, however their freshwater
use receives less attention. Prior to mono
eyes hitting the production lines and being
made commercially available, tyers would go
through the quick task of
burning mono till balls formed
then coloring their creations
with markers or paint.
This task still continues and
varying monofilament diameters
are used. Commonly mono
eyes are used |
Mono eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
on
crab, shrimp, and crayfish patterns and some
nymph patterns including Hex, dragonfly and
damsel fly nymphs. Some creative freedom can
be incorporated by spicing up mono eyes
through the addition of glass beads prior to
burning the mono.
.
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3D eyes (molded
eyes) - 3D eyes, also known as molded eyes
are an excellent choice for providing
realism to baitfish and squid patterns. These eyes come in many sizes and colors and
are commonly used on Deceivers, Dougherty's
Herring, Dougherty's SEP Squid, Dougherty's Siliside Minnow and Dougherty's Tube flies. Additionally, 3D
eyes can be incorporated into Deep Sea eyes,
Real Eyes, Jiggy eyes and Cross-eyed |
3D eyes (molded eyes)
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
Cone eyes. There are several ways to attach these
eyes, a few common ways include: 1. Placing
the eye into epoxy as it dries (applying
epoxy over the the eye is generally not
preferred as it creates excess bulk and
reduces the the shimmer of the eye; however
exceptions exist), 2. A small drop of
Zap-A-Gap to the back of the eye or to both
the eye and the location it will be glued to
(a spray of Zip Kicker can be used), 3. Epoxied to mono (less desirable) or by 4.
glued by a hot glue gun. Again 3D eyes come
in many colors, from holographic to
prismatic, even Mirage.
.
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Decoy eyes
- Decoy eyes while not commonly
found may be found under the
alias hobby eyes. Decoy
eyes are constructed of layering
balls of glass or plastic
adhered to wire. Typically
the first ball or pupil is black
surrounded by a second ball of a
transparent color. Decoy
eyes come in a range of sizes
and can be applied to crab,
shrimp or minnow patterns.
These eyes are tied in with just
enough of the wire (i.e. post)
to push the eye out in front of
the body |
Decoy eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
material used. Commonly
used body material includes wool as in Woolhead patterns and deer hair as in
sculpin and frog patterns.
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Animal eyes
- Animals eyes were originally
used in the making of stuffed
animals but have crossed over to
fly tying. Animal eyes are
realistic, widely available and
come in an array of sizes and
colors. Attachment is
varied and can include: 1. Tying
in as regular, 2. Trimming each
eye's post a little and
inserting in to plastic tubing
and tying in, or 3.
Trimming one eye's post and hot
glue gun together. Animal
eyes are used in patterns such |
Animal eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
as Enrico
Puglisi patterns, deer hair sculpins and
frogs.
.
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Doll eyes
(Rattle eyes) - Doll eyes or rattle eyes
have been around for awhile. Doll eyes are
similar to animal eyes as they both share
the common thread of being cross-overs from
the world of crafts. Many
anglers swear that the slight
rattle imparted by the two-part
eye attracts fish. This
comment however is arguable as
typically the only patterns that
use doll eyes today are top
water patterns such as frogs and
poppers; so the |
Doll eyes (Rattle eyes)
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
argument goes,
what makes more noise the spraying water or
the rattling eye? Doll eyes come in
a range of sizes and are typically
yellow/black or white/black and can be
applied by glue or epoxy.
.
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Weighted:
.
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Bead-chain eyes
- Bead-chain eyes have been
around for awhile and are
probably best known by Dan
Blanton's Whistler pattern.
Anyone who's cast this pattern
will know why they're called
whistlers. Bead-chain eyes
are easy to use; cut a pair off
using wire cutters and tie on.
These eyes are light and add a
little weight and therefore
incorporated broadly into flats
patterns. Bead-chains
typically come in silver, gold
or black and in a range |
Bead-chain eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
of sizes. Patterns that use
bead-chains eyes include Whistlers, Gotchas,
Mini Puffs, Crazy Charlies, Comets and
shrimps.
.
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Lead eyes
(painted or non-painted) - Lead eyes are
part of the dumbbell eye clan
and come painted or unpainted.
Although lead eyes are widely
available, come in a range of
sizes and colors they are
sometimes passed over due their
soft nature. Eyes with a
flat center verse a "V" are
preferred as they're less likely
to break in two. Lead eyes
can further be secured by
liberally coating with epoxy
once the fly is complete.
Lead eyes, as with all dumbbell
eyes, are slightly |
Lead eyes (Painted or
non-painted)
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
less forgiving
then other weight alternatives should a poor
cast send a fly into your rod tip.Where cone heads or lead wrapped flies
may glance off your rod, dumbbells are more
likely to snap your rod. Lead eyes are used
in Clouser Minnows, Half-and-Halfs, crab and
crayfish patterns. Refer to "Attachment"
section above for tying suggestions.
.
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Dazzle eyes - Dazzle eyes are also part of
the dumbbell clan and are made of brass. They can be silver, gold or black and range
in size. Although lighter then lead eyes of
equal size, they are stronger and will
typically outlast lead eyes. Dazzle eyes are
used on Clouser Minnows, Half-and-Halfs,
Gotchas, crab and crayfish patterns. Refer
to "Attachment" section above for tying
suggestions. |
Dazzle eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
.
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Deep Sea eyes
- Deep Sea eyes are also part of
the dumbbell clan and are made
of aluminum. They
typically are silver or black in
color and range in size.
Each side of the dumbbell has a
recessed hole allowing either
tape eyes or 3D eyes to placed
within. Being aluminum
they are considerably lighter
than lead eyes and are generally
used only as a means to secure
eyes. Deep Sea eyes are used
either in securing very large
eyes to |
Deep Sea eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
large baitfish
patterns or in making very light versions of
the following patterns: Clouser Minnows and
Half-and-Halfs. Refer to "Attachment"
section above for tying suggestions.
.
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Real eyes - Real
eyes are also part of the dumbbell clan.
They typically are silver, gold or black and
range in size. Each side of the dumbbell has
a recessed hole allowing either tape eyes or
3D eyes to be placed within. Real eyes are
used on Clouser Minnows, Half-and-Halfs and
Gotchas. Refer to "Attachment" section above
for tying suggestions. |
Real eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
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Real Hot eyes
- Real Hot eyes are also part of
the dumbbell clan. They
literally are identical to Real
eyes, however they come in very
bright colors. Like Real
Eyes each side of the dumbbell
has a recessed hole allowing
either tape eyes or 3D eyes to
be placed within. Real Hot
eyes can be used on Clouser
Minnows, Half-and-Halfs and
Gotchas, however they're
typically used for steelhead and
salmon patterns, i.e. leeches
and |
Real Hot eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
Comets.
Refer to "Attachment" section above for
tying suggestions.
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Real Eyes Plus -
Real Eyes Plus are also part of the dumbbell
clan. They come in a range of colors and
sizes. Real Eyes Plus differ from Real Eyes
by the following, rather than having a
recessed hole on each end for either tape
eyes or 3D eyes, they have permanent
enameled eye inserts. These inserts are
manufacturer installed and guaranteed never
to pop out. Real Eyes Plus are used on
Clouser Minnows and Half-and-Halfs. |
Real Eyes Plus
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
Refer to
"Attachment" section above for tying suggetions.
.
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Metz
Presentation eyes - Metz Presentation eyes
were one of the original variants to
dumbbell eyes. The basic dumbbell concept
exists however the ends are plugged with epoxied/plastic eyes. The eyes have glitter
fleck which add to their realism. Metz
Presentation eyes are generally durable
however the epoxied/plastic eyes will
dislodge if the fly is
repeatedly bounced off a rocky
bottom. Metz Presentation
eyes |
Metz Presentation eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
come in
different sizes and colors however their
availability is at times limited. These eyes can be used on Clouser Minnow
flies, Half-and-Halfs, and Dougherty's
Vineyard Minnow, Dougherty's Sili-Fox and
Sili-Deer Minnow.
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I-Balz eyes - I-Balz
eyes are similar to dumbbell eyes. I-Balz
are made from brass and have bulbous spheres
with painted eyes. I-Balz come in silver,
gold and black. Different sizes are
available.
.
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Cross-eyed Cone
- Cross-eyed Cones are a variant
of the cone head. Each
side of the cone head has been
drilled with a recessed hole
allowing either tape eyes or 3D
eyes to be placed within.
Generally the cross-eyed cone
will be placed first on the
hook, materials tied in next,
thread whipped finished and
trimmed, and the thread wraps
glued and shoved within the cone
head (Zap-A-Gap CA+ and Zip
Kicker aid this process).
Tape |
Cross-eyed eyes
(click on image to enlarge)
. |
eyes or 3D eyes
(preferred) are best applied by first adding
a very small drop of Zap-A-Gap CA+ to the
backs of the eyes and pressing them into the
recesses. A benefit to using cross-eyed
cones or cone heads in generally is their
ability to glance off your fly rod should
you be unfortunate enough to have a
misdirected cast. Unlike dumbbell eyes, cone
heads are more forgiving. Different sizes
are available and can be used on Deceivers,
tube flies and Surf Candy flies.
.
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Jiggy Cone - Jiggy Cones are Bob Popovic's spin on cone
heads and are an integral component to Bob's
Jiggy fly. Jiggy cones are laterally
flattened and are designed to be more
lifelike than cone heads. While Jiggy Cones
are generally less available than cone heads
they are probably equally available as
Cross-eyed Cones. Jiggy Cones come in
different sizes and with or without prefixed
eyes.
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