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Disguising a bead by turning it into a head with multifaceted insect eyes

The Tufty flies saw the light of day because of a need for some heavy metal for the author’s local high and coloured rivers

A short article about adding weight to a fly – and make it do what you want and stay where you put it

This fly lives up to its name. In fact, silk ribbon is the only material used to tie it, apart from hook, bead and thread

This odd, multi-legged thingy named after a species found as a Cambrian fossil has a strange appeal to trout

Two tungsten beads on a loop of monofilament adds weight and eyes to this fly

A scaled-down version of the author’s own Headbanger Caddis, a cased nymph caddis pattern

The Springtail has a soft and bendy body made from a boiled coil of colorful, elastic jewelry string

This is a fly that was designed for a wooded canyon on one of the author’s favourite small rivers where the water has carved out a deep narrow channel through the limestone

Minnows upcycle small lifeforms into a tasty package of protein for bigger fish to eat, so minnow imitations make effective flies

A productive zonker pattern tied with synthetic fur. Easy to tie, easy to cast.

This nymph pattern teaches you how to make a sparkling hackle from organza ribbon – in two different ways even!

One key to durability in flies is to prepare a bit before starting - and choosing the right hook, thread and materials

My venture into the history and legacy of the classic March Brown led to a whole lot of variations over the theme

Behind the somewhat strange name hides a somewhat strange fly originated by Danish salmon guide Marc Skovby. An good looking salmon tube fly that's both easy to tie and very efficient.

A generic nymph that can do equally well as a stonefly or mayfly nymph as it can a waterboatman or backswimmer

While keeping the profile of the Copper John but using fewer and different materials the Glitter John came about.

This is a very simple fly imitating the caddis larva. Some may call it realistic fly, some will say impressionistic, but no matter what, the originator says with 100% certainty that it's a killer pattern and he has caught lots of fish with it in many different places.

A simple and good looking scud pattern from Charles Garwood.

The gold bead flies that are now so popular, actually originated in the central part of Europe - more than 100 years ago.

Beads or eyes are added for one or both of two reasons: weight and appearance. The eyes and beads discussed here are made from metal: brass, steel, lead - even tungsten. This will make them heavy and thus add weight to the fly. The weight will bring the fly down and often give it a certain behavior - a diving or jigging motion. But it will also add to the looks of the fly, the most obvious case being eyes added to fish or fry patterns like streamers.