Tungsten Sizes

[bear]

I'm just about to order some tungsten beads for river nymphs.

By the time I've selected copper, gold and nickel then some pink and black painted ones, in sizes 2mm, 2.5mm and 3mm, it starts to add up!

So, is it worth just getting 2mm and 3mm and leaving the 2.5mm out?

Trying to keep things simple, how may of you use 2.5mm beads?

Thanks.

[emerger1981]

Originally Posted by bear

I'm just about to order some tungsten beads for river nymphs.

By the time I've selected copper, gold and nickel then some pink and black painted ones, in sizes 2mm, 2.5mm and 3mm, it starts to add up!

So, is it worth just getting 2mm and 3mm and leaving the 2.5mm out?

Trying to keep things simple, how may of you use 2.5mm beads?

Thanks.

it depends on what size nymphs you want and what depths you want to fish them.. if you want them to get down quick then a larger heavy bead is needed but if your fishing a shallow stream a lighter smaller bead is needed if the flows not strong.. also some beads iv had are small but the holes to big even for a 14 so dont buy too many at once.. get a sample so you know they fit the hooks you want to use

[shuck raider]

Some fairly detailed sizing advice from Phil on his spiderplus website here

[diawl bach]

This summer I have mainly been using 2 and 2.5mm beads, the 2.5 's are in proportion to a B175 size 14 nymph hook, 2mm look good on smaller sizes.
Anything heavier than a 2.5 bead makes casting a drag with my 9' #4.


If you'll forgive the plug I've just received a top-up of beads from Joel, a forum member who provides excellent goods and service at a very competitive price via his web site .

[FunkyFlyTying]

What sizes Flies are you going to be tying mainly?
I use the following sizes on the following hook sizes as a general rule.

1.5mm 16 and smaller
2mm 16-14
2.5mm 14-12
3mm 12-10

Of course this is very general and i quite often use all the bead sizes above on all the hook sizes because i want the fly to sink at different rate of descent depending on the depth of the water.

Be aware as well that there are lots of different qualities of Tungsten Beads out there and some you would swear were just brass beads labelled up as Tungsten

T

[commo]

Ring Joel!
He will sort you out and save you a bob or two.
For what it's worth I use 2 and 2.5 mainly for river nymphs. Check out John Tyzack's patterns

[dwiltshire]

I'd keep a stock of all the sizes to give you flexibiity in your tyings.

As WCB mentions, mass can vary between beads... perhaps some actually being tungsten. I'v been using these this season and have been very impressed:

Beads, Dumbbells and Eyes :: Funky Fly Tying

[Stillwater angler]

You can double bead mate......... to get your weights.

Mix + match....

As an example i use a pattern with an orange tungsten bead + a chatreuse brass bead....... does the job.
Or two tungstens in the smaller size........ may save ya paying out for various sizes.

[Spider]

Originally Posted by diawl bach

This summer I have mainly been using 2 and 2.5mm beads, the 2.5 's are in proportion to a B175 size 14 nymph hook, 2mm look good on smaller sizes.
Anything heavier than a 2.5 bead makes casting a drag with my 9' #4.


If you'll forgive the plug I've just received a top-up of beads from Joel, a forum member who provides excellent goods and service at a very competitive price via his web site .

Another plug for Joel from me.

Be careful of the 1.5mm, or dont buy too many. They are v small ......

[Stillwater angler]

Spider,

Will Joels beads stand up to mucho punishment ?..... Fluro. tungstens i use will only usually last one session before coating comes off.