Bead Thoraxed Soft Hackled Nymphs

[Ron Eagle Elk]

I used to hate bead anything flies. One day fishing a PMD flymph on the Lochsa River of Idaho, I was doing pretty well, pulling some nice Cutthroat up from a fairly deep hole. I was quite content until I watched a guy just downstream a bit just slaying them. Fish after fish fell for his fly. I walked down and watched for a while and when he left the river I asked what he was using. Turns out it was a fly very similar to mine, with the exception of a small brass bead at the thorax. He gave me two to try, in case I lost one. My catch rate went up immediately. Instead of pulling the fish up, the bead fly got down to where they were. That evening I bought some small beads and tied a few PMDs with them.

Beads, like every thing else we lash on a hook, needs to serve a purpose. In my fly box I have six of each fly, tied without beads, next to them are six more, with beads. Just in case.

[chase creek]

Ray said - " wondered if the choice of a silver bead would be a better representation of an air bubble surrounding the thorax."
I would fish a silver bead during the day, and a gold bead later - during what photographers call the "golden Hour". (When the light has a more "golden" glow.) Just before Sunset.
Just my thoughts.

[Bazzer69]

If you look at most brass beads they have a larger hole at one end than the other. The original use for this was to slide a bead onto your tippet when extra weight was required, the larger hole going over the knot and eye of the fly. Still a very useful way of turning any non beaded fly into a beaded fly. All you have to do is carry a few beads in your tackle bag. I still do this when I feel the need for beaded nymphs such as a Birds Nest, Prince Nymph etc. I’ve never used it with soft hackled flies but there is no reason why you shouldn’t. I personally find the use of beads in the construction of flies ugly. If you know how to cast and drift a fly you should be able to get a fly deeper without the necessity of putting a bead on. Casting and mending correctly is something I don’t see being done very often. Frank Sawyer cast his nymphs upstream with a long lead that allowed the fly to hit the surface with a plop attaching fish and getting the fly to penetrate the surface film quickly.
Barry

[DUBBN]

If you look at most brass beads they have a larger hole at one end than the other. The original use for this was to slide a bead onto your tippet when extra weight was required, the larger hole going over the knot and eye of the fly. Still a very useful way of turning any non beaded fly into a beaded fly. All you have to do is carry a few beads in your tackle bag. I still do this when I feel the need for beaded nymphs such as a Birds Nest, Prince Nymph etc. I’ve never used it with soft hackled flies but there is no reason why you shouldn’t. I personally find the use of beads in the construction of flies ugly. If you know how to cast and drift a fly you should be able to get a fly deeper without the necessity of putting a bead on. Casting and mending correctly is something I don’t see being done very often. Frank Sawyer cast his nymphs upstream with a long lead that allowed the fly to hit the surface with a plop attaching fish and getting the fly to penetrate the surface film quickly.
Barry

All that wire in the construction of his PT didn't hurt in getting the fly deep either.

[Bazzer69]

Copper wire or a little squished lead foil underneath the thorax is perfectly acceptable in my book. Certainly does not add “bling” unless your fishing for pike or bass.

[DUBBN]

For me copper was the original "bling".


In The Riffle Sawyer PT

[Bazzer69]

For me copper was the original "bling".


In The Riffle Sawyer PT

Not quite a FS tied them, but good enough to fool the same number of fish. ( I’ve got some FS originals)

Merry Xmas to one and all

[Johnno]

The PTN variation with the exposed copper thorax as per above is the most common and most used variation in New Zealand. It’d be a toss up between that and a Hare and Copper as to which fly catches the most fish..

[Old Hat]

I've got a silly (and yet serious) question. Do you think there would be any noticeable difference in effectiveness between gold beads, versus silver beads? I tend to use gold beads most often, but have wondered if the choice of a silver bead would be a better representation of an air bubble surrounding the thorax.

Anyone have an opinion on this?

My initial thoughts on this Ray would be "no noticeable difference". You are dealing with substrate reflections and anything shiny is going to slightly take on the reflective color of the surroundings. There is not enough difference between the gold and silver to matter here. Now if you were to put on one of those bright red beads or the rainbow beads you might see a difference in more or less takes depending on what the fish see and want.

Joaniebo - I'm not a bead guy either on wet flies. But these are very nicely done and some of the best tying I've seen incorporating beads into the thorax.

[Theroe]

beads are generally not for me - 98% of flies I tie do not have one. One pattern I do use with a bead is the Gallagher - same as original dressing in Leonards book of flies. This pattern has been a staple for me since the early 1980's, sans bead! As far as catch-ability, this fly is one of my top five, go to staples. Somewhere along the line, Ivan added a gold bead.....and it worked better. When I started tying them with beads, the only type in my possession were black tungsten, which worked even better. IMHO this is because the fly swims lower in the water column, if not right on the bottom. A bronze tungsten works just as well. Both tungsten models catch better than shiny brass: drab, dull flies catch more fish for me!!
Dana