Bead head or no bead head

I'm brand new to fly fishing and was wondering do most of you prefer to use bead head flies or flies without bead heads when fishing for bluegills and bass? Looking at getting some wooly buggers and maybe some muddlers and nymphs but didn't know if I should go with bead heads or not, seems like they'd have trouble sinking without the beads.

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Originally Posted by slab-in-the-box

... seems like they'd have trouble sinking without the beads.

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You are correct, and that's why I almost always use a bead.

Another view...I have both. There are times when the fish are feeding in the film and you don't need to go deep so I use one with no weight. Also there is no way to change the weight on a bead head (other than making it heaver) if you want to change the drop rate.

I'm no expert, but my fishing has improved since I started using beadheads.

I like using the bead-heads also but at times you want something that will just fall right over the water (subsurface). Helps to have a few of each.

Some people don't like bead heads because if you make a mistake in your casting it will hit your rod. I like to use woolly buggers also beaded and unbeaded. If I want it to sink and I am not using a bead then I will wrap the shank with some lead before tying. If I am fishing and want the fly to sink a little faster then I will add a small split shot to the leader instead of switching flies.

The split shot I use is made for fly fishing.


Dan

Depends on the technique and what the fish are after. Some flies, I use lead wraps underneath to add weight, some I don't, and some I use beads!

Another suggestion is to add a small strike indicator up about 18"s. Really help out with beadhead or without.

If you are new to fly casting, I would recommend that you start with lightly weighted flies. No clouser minnows until you are proficient with a fly rod.

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Originally Posted by hogan

If you are new to fly casting, I would recommend that you start with lightly weighted flies. No clouser minnows until you are proficient with a fly rod.

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Don't forget to pinch the barb off too, easyer to get the fly out of your neck.

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Originally Posted by dvuks

Don't forget to pinch the barb off too, easyer to get the fly out of your neck.

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:Rofl

I use both but mostly beadheads with a Fish Pimp strike indicator when fishing for gills or crappie!!:biggrin