Lightweight Dumbbell Eye Options

[Kfish]

You're on to something here Brian, going to give it a try this winter. I glued 5/32 eyes on to Rainys small boobie round eyes, might not be very durable but it's going to be fun taking the stillwater boobie approach in the salt.

 

[Stonedfish]

You're on to something here Brian, going to give it a try this winter. I glued 5/32 eyes on to Rainys small boobie round eyes, might not be very durable but it's going to be fun taking the stillwater boobie approach in the salt.

View attachment 38527

Lou,
Great idea!
Brian

 

[Northern]

You're on to something here Brian, going to give it a try this winter. I glued 5/32 eyes on to Rainys small boobie round eyes, might not be very durable but it's going to be fun taking the stillwater boobie approach in the salt.

Not exactly a booby, but I've had salt days where they went nuts chasing a baitfish...ish pattern tied with a mini-me foam head in place of a cone, fished subsurface on an intermediate or type3. It moves really wonky when you strip! Variations on this:

Love the idea of using booby eyes, tho - gonna try that.

Brian - do you just not like using plain old glue-on eyes? If the dumbell isn't weighted, how are you getting it to ride point up?

 

[RRSmith]

I can attest that Lou's spoon flies are deadly on Oregon estuary cutthroat!

 

[Stonedfish]

Not exactly a booby, but I've had salt days where they went nuts chasing a baitfish...ish pattern tied with a mini-me foam head in place of a cone, fished subsurface on an intermediate or type3. It moves really wonky when you strip! Variations on this:
View attachment 38537
Love the idea of using booby eyes, tho - gonna try that.

Brian - do you just not like using plain old glue-on eyes? If the dumbell isn't weighted, how are you getting it to ride point up?

Leigh,
I think if I use the plastic dumbbell eyes, there will be just enough weight on one side of the hook to turn it point up. If not, really no big deal as most stuff even with brass eyes doesn't stay exactly point up all the time while stripping. I could also just add a small, short strand of 0.010 lead wire between the eyes, but I'm not sure that would really be needed.
I have had success using surface patterns like you mentioned fishing them subsurface on a intermediate line. The up and down, side to side bobbing baitfish action is very enticing and you can strip pretty slowly without hanging up.
SF

 

[Bruce Baker]

Foldover eyes -- https://shop.flyfishsd.com/products...MI_-DD2K-B-wIVKw-tBh2NwAGzEAQYASABEgIIbvD_BwE

Tabbed eyes -- https://www.tridentflyfishing.com/p...MI_-DD2K-B-wIVKw-tBh2NwAGzEAQYAyABEgISb_D_BwE

 

[Herkileez]

I caught my biggest Cutts with these little spoon flies. Size 4 Gami SS15 bent to shape, some lead wraps, mylar and uv resin.View attachment 38525

Niice ! Gonna steal this idea for coho beach flies. Thinking fake fingernails for the spoons.

 

[Mingo]

I can attest that Lou's spoon flies are deadly on Oregon estuary cutthroat!

cool looking fly. Is that legal in fly-fishing-only fisheries? Asking for a friend....looks deadly!

 

[Dr. Magill]

Some carefully placed foam might be your friend

 

[FinLuver]

I burn my own with varied colored monos/varied sized mono/sometimes combining two/one color/sizes to create a pupil