Adding mono eyes to your bonefish flies is a simple way to increase the realism of your patterns. Mono eyes are very simple to make and offer a good imitation of the beady eyes of most shrimp.
Sure, we could debate on whether the fish notice such details or not, but it sure doesn’t seem to hurt! If you want to give a little more life to your bonefish flies, try incorporating some mono eyes into your patterns.
Most often, mono eyes are made by melting the ends of monofilament into a ball and then coloring with permanent marker. However, our General Manager Mike Sanders has put in a lot of time at the vise and uses a slightly different method on his bonefish flies that is quick, easy, and super tasty looking once added to a fly.
Check out how he does it.
Materials
- 25 lb. Monofilament line
- Small glass beads (found at any craft store)
- Urethane glue
- Black permanent marker
Step 1
Cut a strand of monofilament a few inches long, fold in half, and crease in the middle. Slide a glass bead onto each end of the mono line.
Step 2
Using a lighter, melt each end of the mono into a ball large enough to prevent the glass beads from sliding off the end.
Step 3
With a permanent marker, color the end of the melted mono (this will be the pupil of the eye) and slide the glass beads down to each end of the mono.
Step 4
Add a drop of urethane glue into the back end opening of each glass bead and let dry.
Step 5
Tie into your favorite bonefish pattern!
Funny, I was just making eyes during the game yesterday! (Go Hawks!)
Just boring black. It never crossed my mind that a bonefish would be triggered by the color of the iris on the eye of a shrimp pattern. Especially with that bright spawn sac in the fish’s face!
I’m sure you have tried this, but a real easy and quick set of eyes can be made using Sunset Amnesia – comes in several colors, but I prefer the red. You can make a a colorful eye by just by meltong the end with a match or any hot implement, and the red stands out amazingly. Deepnding on how you melt the tip you can have red eyes or black tipped eyes.
Thanks to all at Denaki for the great tips on gear and Spey casting techniques throughout the year.
I will be heading up to Alaska on September 22nd for our annual salmon fishing trip. You can be sure your advice will be well tested and greatly appreciated. Also, we will be well armed with some of the killer flies you have recently featured. I have no doubt they prove every bit as effective as you claim.
Love your news letter.
Alistair