Beads
Bead head can be used for adding weight and nice look for the fly. Brass and tungsten (wolfram) are the most popular materials. Tungsten is the heaviest material and the best choice for flies that are required to sink fast. Beads can have standard hole, countersunk or slotted hole. Slotted bead head is usually the most compatible bead model for various hook models and shapes.
In the chart below you can see general bead head size recommendation chart. Please note that there might be variation in regard of bead size and hook size between different manufacturers, so we are not able to guarantee the compatibility. Fly pattern and the desired weight of the fly also affect on choosing the correct bead size. In some cases you may choose even smaller or larger bead size.
| Hook size | Bead head size |
|---|---|
| #2 and larger | 4,6 mm and larger |
| #4 | 4,6 - 5,5 mm |
| #6 | 3,8 - 4,6 mm |
| #8 | 3,3 - 3,8 mm |
| #10 | 2,8 - 3,8 mm |
| #12 | 2,8 - 3,3 mm |
| #14 | 2,3 - 3,3 mm |
| #16 | 2,0 - 2,8 mm |
| #18 and smaller | 2,3 mm and smaller |
