Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

Young Salt · 03-03-2004, 06:54 PM

I personally don't weight my flys very often and when I do, I use lead-free wire that you wrap around the shank. with that said...
A normal, unweighted fly will ride hook point down, with the point & the bend acting as a little keel. If you use dumbbell eyes, then the fly will tend to fall point down if it is tied under the hook shank, point up if it is tied above the shank. just think of how the weight will drag the fly down.
When I tie in a dumbbell i make a 6-7 'criss cross' turns...the hourglass or round shape helps the thread stay nice and centered. The motion that I use for my next couple turns is what really locks it into place...I make a motion - like mixing something a bowl - around the weight NOT AROUND THE SHANK. I do that a couple times, then I add some head cement/ silicone / epoxy.
Also, if you already have thread around the hook shank, it will help keep the eyes ( and most other stuff) from rolling on the hook shank.

03-03-2004, 06:54 PM	#2
Young Salt Salt of the Earth iTrader: (0) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Suburbia, RI Posts: 1,025	I personally don't weight my flys very often and when I do, I use lead-free wire that you wrap around the shank. with that said... A normal, unweighted fly will ride hook point down, with the point & the bend acting as a little keel. If you use dumbbell eyes, then the fly will tend to fall point down if it is tied under the hook shank, point up if it is tied above the shank. just think of how the weight will drag the fly down. When I tie in a dumbbell i make a 6-7 'criss cross' turns...the hourglass or round shape helps the thread stay nice and centered. The motion that I use for my next couple turns is what really locks it into place...I make a motion - like mixing something a bowl - around the weight NOT AROUND THE SHANK. I do that a couple times, then I add some head cement/ silicone / epoxy. Also, if you already have thread around the hook shank, it will help keep the eyes ( and most other stuff) from rolling on the hook shank.