Bead problems - help!

[altmor]

After a long, long layoff I've only recently returned to fly tying (and fly fishing) in the last 18 months.

I know the basic tying techniques (in fact I've tied respectable fully dressed salmon flies in the past ) but at the moment I'm being defeated by beads. I just can't get them on the hook as they don't seem to want to go round the bend without me bending the hook! I'm using Kamasan B175's (14's and 12's) and Veniards 3.8mm beads.

Hopefully this is a real numpty question and someone can provide a answer that has me thinking 'well slap my vitals, why didn't I think of that!' Is there a secret technique? I won't tell anyone else. Honest!

[BRUCE1]

firstly , presume your flattening the barb ????????

[spidersplus]

Dare I also suggest that a 3.8mm bead is far too big for a size 12 or 14 hook?

I would personally use a 2.8mm to 3mm bead for that size - you will certainly struggle to get such a large bead on those sizes of hooks, especially a B175 - you might just get a 3.8mm onto a B100 which has a much wider gape.

Kind regards

[altmor]

Originally Posted by barbusbruce

firstly , presume your flattening the barb ????????

Yes.

Which village just outside York Barbusbruce? I used to live in a village about 20 miles east of York with a name that makes most people chuckle and I really do miss my barbel and chub fishing on the Derwent. It rains a lot more over this side of the Pennines too.

Originally Posted by spidersplus

Dare I also suggest that a 3.8mm bead is far too big for a size 12 or 14 hook?

I would personally use a 2.8mm to 3mm bead for that size - you will certainly struggle to get such a large bead on those sizes of hooks, especially a B175 - you might just get a 3.8mm onto a B100 which has a much wider gape.

Kind regards

Ah ha! You may well suggest 3.8mm is too big. If anything I was thinking I might have to go bigger, the flawed logic being a bigger bead has a bigger hole and therefore might go round the bend. I'll obtain some smaller beads as you suggest and have another go.

Thanks guys

RB

[squeeks]

Originally Posted by rod_bender

I used to live in a village about 20 miles east of York with a name that makes most people chuckle

that's gotta be Wetwang then - chortle, guffaw, schnibbit

[guest21]

You might want to try a slotted bead rather than a drilled bead - and you are trying to mount the bead by putting the hook point through the smallest hole on the drilled bead ... aren't you?

[jonnied17-2008]

not sure why you cant get it on the hook? 3.8mm is a farely big bead, a bigger bead has a larger diameter so it gets stuck a lot easier around the bend, a smaller one will prob fit better, cant say I've used veniards beads before.

[BRUCE1]

Originally Posted by rod_bender

Yes.

Which village just outside York Barbusbruce? I used to live in a village about 20 miles east of York with a name that makes most people chuckle and I really do miss my barbel and chub fishing on the Derwent. It rains a lot more over this side of the Pennines too.





RB

that would'nt be WETWANG by anychance would it or FRYUP

[BRUCE1]

HERE'S A GOOD CHART FOR YOU AS IN BEAD TO HOOK SIZE ....

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/blog.php?b=253

[arkle]

Not all beads are made in the same place, surprise. So the size of hole in them can vary from one make to another. Consequently a 3mm brass bead will different to a 2.8mm tungsten one from someone else. Once you've found a range that fits your chosen hooks, try & stick with it.