What is a HEAVY fly?

[GGY]

Before I relate what I use to make my HEAVY flies, I would like others to post what they use (and think is heavy).

I spent some time with a scale weighing various beads (lead & tungsten), as well as differing amounts (wraps) of lead wire, so I should be able to estimate the mass of the fly.

You should specify:

• Hook type.
• Hook size.
• Bead size and metal
• Lead - diameter, number of wraps (preferably per layer)
• Dubbing - material and thickness.

I will probably be writing a whole article on mass, density, profile etc of sinking flies for Flyfishing, so I will not go into technical details.

[Scythe]

I was waiting for this post ...

[MCC]

Howzit Gary

Well, the heaviest control flies that I carry weigh two grams.

These bombs are tied with two 3.8 mm Tungsten beads, three 3.3 mm Tungsten beads and about ten centimetres of .20 lead wire.

These patterns are tied on #4 Mustad circles with a very thin covering of Hare's dubbing and a shellback of shrimp foil.

A bit expensive, but well worth having.

I also tie 1.7 gr, 1.4 gr, 1.1 gr, 0.7 gr and 0.5 gr control flies. Presentation at exactly the right depth is always possible.

Cheers
MC

[dlampert]

Howzit Gary

Well, the heaviest control flies that I carry weigh two grams.

These bombs are tied with two 3.8 mm Tungsten beads, three 3.3 mm Tungsten beads and about ten centimetres of .20 lead wire.

These patterns are tied on #4 Mustad circles with a very thin covering of Hare's dubbing and a shellback of shrimp foil.

A bit expensive, but well worth having.

I also tie 1.7 gr, 1.4 gr, 1.1 gr, 0.7 gr and 0.5 gr control flies. Presentation at exactly the right depth is always possible.

Cheers
MC

MC,

Out of interest do you catch any fish on the 2gr sinkers ?

Thanks,
Darryl

[Chris Shelton]

Interesting thread!

Being a 90% dry fly fisherman, I am pretty new to the concept of heavily weighted flies. I have on occassion seen the need to get down quickly though, and usually achieved this by attaching a string of small spit shot on and around my tippet knot. Although this often did the trick for me, it was always a bugger to cast, but then again, I was invariably hampered by a 3 weight rod.
This leads me to the question. What weight rod do you guys find to be the most suitable for those heavily weighted bombs,....and, how long do you make your leaders?

[dizzy]

What weight rod do you guys find to be the most suitable for those heavily weighted bombs,....and, how long do you make your leaders?

Chris, I doubt that many of the folks using this technique actually cast. I reckon its mostly Czech nymphing. Although I have seen some anglers cast there bombs at the barbel on the Vaal, and there bombs are considerably heavier than the ones I use.

[dizzy]

The biggest fly I tie is a #6 on a grip hook. I'm not sure which grip model it is though.
The biggest beads I use are 3.8mm and are mostly tungsten.
I use mostly 0.25mm lead.
On a #6 hook I wrap once from the eye to the bend and then a half (from eye to middle of shank).
I use diamond brite and rabittron for dubbing as well as blends.

[GGY]

The biggest fly I tie is a #6 on a grip hook. I'm not sure which grip model it is though.
The biggest beads I use are 3.8mm and are mostly tungsten.
I use mostly 0.25mm lead.
On a #6 hook I wrap once from the eye to the bend and then a half (from eye to middle of shank).

You might JUST reach 0.9 gram with this setup (assuming 3.8mm tungsten), though I think more like 0.8gram.

Gary

[dizzy]

You might JUST reach 0.9 gram with this setup (assuming 3.8mm tungsten), though I think more like 0.8gram.

Gary

What do you reckon is the ideal weight (allround) for a fly fished in a combination of different water throughout the day.

[GGY]

What do you reckon is the ideal weight (allround) for a fly fished in a combination of different water throughout the day.

For SM on the Vaal in normal flows, fishing varied water, I like to use 0.7g (and 3X/4X).

YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)

Gary