Collection

Fly Tying Beads

Match the right weight, profile, and finish to the water you fish.

94 products
Spawn Slotted Tungsten Football Beads

Tying guide

Choose bead weight, size, and shape

Beads add weight and a clean head. Material decides how fast the fly gets down. Shape and hole style decide how it seats on the hook.

Materials and sink rate

  • Tungsten: denser. Same size sinks faster than brass, so you can stay compact in deeper or faster water.
  • Brass: moderate sink. Useful when you want depth control without a heavy head.
  • Glass: light, a bit of translucence. Good when you want color more than weight.

Hole style

Slotted beads open to the side so they seat on jig hooks and straight shanks. Through-hole beads slide over a conventional eye. Seat the bead flush behind the eye without crowding the thorax.

Sizing we stock

  • 1.5–2.0 mm: small midges and light nymphs
  • 2.4–2.8 mm: standard nymphs
  • 3.3–3.8 mm: bigger nymphs and small streamers
  • 5.5 mm: Spawn football beads
  • 8–9 mm: Spawn Fathom beads

Shapes beyond the round head

Cyclops and painted beads for classic nymphs. Lead and dumbbell eyes when you want a streamer to ride correctly. Football and Fathom profiles when you want a different silhouette than a plain ball. Match the head to the pattern, not the other way around.

Common questions

Fly tying beads FAQ

Slotted vs non-slotted beads?

Slotted beads open to the side for jig hooks and straight shanks. Through-hole beads slide over a conventional eye. If the bead will not seat without forcing the hook, you have the wrong hole style.

Tungsten vs brass or glass: sink rate?

Tungsten sinks faster at a smaller diameter. Brass is moderate. Glass is light. In fast or deep water, tungsten usually gets you to the zone with less bulk.

How do I match bead size to hook?

Use the sizing list on this page. The bead should sit flush behind the eye without swallowing the thorax. If the head looks oversized for the hook, drop a size.

When do I use eyes or cones instead of a round bead?

Dumbbell and lead eyes help streamers track and show a face. Cones and specialty heads change profile and weight distribution. Round beads are the default for most nymphs.

Will a heavier bead ruin the drift?

Too heavy and the fly digs or hangs. Too light and it never reaches fish. Start with the size chart for the pattern, then step tungsten up or down one size based on depth and current.