Hmmm - easy way? Well, it is easy - kind of. Make sure that you pinch down the barb of the hook. Get a bead that fits the hook. On line lots of beads will tell you the bead size to the hook size. If you get a bead too big it can slide over the eye of the hook, too small and it wont go on the hook. Other than that it is preference I think. I prefer tungsten because almost all of my metal beaded flies I want down and tungsten is heavier for its size. Some glass beaded flies are the exception. A down eye hook is not much different than any other. I prefer a straight eye on tiny flies with beads but after that a down eye is fine - usual in fact. There are some gadgets to hold a bead but I have found it easier to just do it with my fingers. I put all the beads on the hooks I will tie to start. If I am tying a dozen size 12 BHGRHE, I will put beads on twelve hooks before I start to tie. Then I just tie away.
Mike On 5/23/07, Chuck Alexander <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Can anybody tell me the "secret" of tying in beards on small, down eye nymph hooks?? Say, a size 12 and smaller hook. An easy way to do it???.. if there is an easy way??? Thanks, Chuck
