Washington Fly Fishing Forum banner

Rigging trout beads?

2 reading
13K views 81 replies 31 participants last post by  Jim Speaker  
#1 ·
I want to start fishing beads but I'm unclear on the rigging. I know the tactic about spacing the bead from the hook about two inches but worry about hooking the fish in the side and stomach and don't want to do that. I may just go with smaller hooks and rig them directly below the bead with no space. Any tips or insight?
 
#3 ·
1 to 1 1/2 inches should do the trick. I beaded quite a bit in Alaska, particularly for Dollies, and was closer to an inch. It was totally effective and would almost always result in the hook getting sucked into the mouth as well as the bead - occasionally there'd be one hooked right on the outside portion of the mouth, but never any further than that.

If you're fishing the bows in Alaska though, go streamers, the bigger fish are almost always taken on streamers (or mice). Now, for dollies though, glo bugs and beads just can't be beat - they are following the salmon runs up to scarf eggs. I've even heard aggressive dollies will head butt female salmon to get eggs to spit out.
 
#8 ·
"1 to 1 1/2 inches should do the trick. I beaded quite a bit in Alaska, particularly for Dollies, and was closer to an inch."

Be careful with this, per the regs in AK the bead must be affixed two inches above the hook or free sliding to be legal. This is put into place so that the fish do not swallow the hook. If you put it a couple inches up, it will generally hook them right in the side of the mouth. I do not think this regulation exists in WA, but I would rig it higher either way for the fishes sake.
 
#13 ·
I tried bead fishing in AK. Managed to do it for about an hour 'til I took the whole setup and tossed into the garbage. Went back to swingin' flesh flies and caught just as many as the guys tossing the bead rigs. Don't know if I was doing it the same as you guys here but with the float, split shot, bead and crap all tied on I didn't find it fly fishing either. "Matching the hatch" isn't something limited to fly rodders and fishing the crap I fished in AK I would have been better off using a bait caster to do it with. They even have a name for the cast used (if you can call it casting), the Kenai Flip. If you like it do it. I don't and I don't.
 
#17 ·
I tried bead fishing in AK. Managed to do it for about an hour 'til I took the whole setup and tossed into the garbage. Went back to swingin' flesh flies and caught just as many as the guys tossing the bead rigs.
This can depend on when you were trying this, when the salmon are just getting into the water and laying eggs they are not starting to "decay" yet - so there usually is not much flesh in the water and they are munching eggs. Later in the year when you can see them dead on the banks, you know that the flesh in throughout the river. I absolutely love swinging flesh just past log jams. Usually the big bows know that dying salmon will get caught on the logs and release tasty flesh into thier mouths. :)
 
#24 ·
Hmmm. . . I have mixed feeling about this setup. It certainly smells like gear fishing, however, the creativeness of it has my attention and wheels turning. Its functionality seems convincing. Will I give it a shot? In the words of Jim Rome, "maybe. . . maybe"
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jim Speaker
#28 ·
There may be no member of the angling community more sensitive than a nympher. Like Kerry, I have used beads and indicator rigs etc. and would rather drink beer and plunk than do it again. Truthfully, I'd rather not fish than chuck lead with a fly rod. Honestly guys, nut up and don't get so sensitive. You really shouldn't be concerned at all whether OMJ respects you.

I'm gonna run an ace hi behind my dodgers this weekend, and I won't call it flyfishing. You can even pick on me about it. I won't cry or get all sensitive. OMJ will not respect me for it and I'll still have my self esteem intact.

Now all of you get on the google machine and google up beads and pegging. Trust me, the nymphers will love the results.

Go Sox,
cds
 
#33 ·
Haha. I'm not sensitive as to whether OMJ agrees with me or not - I like OMJ - almost as much as I like to push buttons spawning even grumpier responses :D
Good times - this is the best topic in all of fly fishing, or non-fly-fishing, or fake-fly-fishing, or whatever it is in its various permutations.

By the way, one of these days I'll nut up and do some REAL fly fishing: cane rod, silk line, gut leader, all whilst attired in tweed suit with a tie, of course, canvas hip boots, long handled net and wicker creel. One of these days, surely. But certainly not when I'm targeting egg hungry dollies in Alaska rivers ;)
 
#36 ·
It's my right as an American to fish anyway I want as long as it does not infringe on your rights. It's in the constitution go ahead and read it. Then all you elites can go suck it !!! Oh did I mention that the Dodgers are in first place and the friggin Yanks and Giants are in 4th !!!