Adding a lead split shot to the hook shank

 

I have several flies, particularly in my saltwater range, which include a lead shot on what is the the bottom of the hook shank when the fly is intended to swim hook point up. There are a number of benefits benefit of using a lead shot as opposed to say a set of dumbbell eyes including:

pregnant-prawn-i pregnant-prawn-a
When you use dumbbell eyes under the fly to get it to ride hook point up it loose weird if you also have to add eyes at the other end of the fly or on top of the fly. As opposed to that the lead shot can be used under the fly as say the gut of the natural or an egg sack of a crustacean as in my pregnant prawn. How good is this ? By putting the lead shot under the fly and relatively close to the eye of the hook as in my prawn fly with the help of a wing which is predominately above the fly you can pretty well guarantee that the hook will ride hook point up reducing the chances of getting snagged.

What you will need

Hook A blade to open up the split in the lead shot Needle nose pliers to crimp the lead shot Vice grips or alternative A soldering iron and solder Nail polish (optional)
Your hook of choice. I generally use stainless or zinc coated hooks. Interestingly if you use a zinc coated hook the solder will meld with the zinc. I actually use a metal bladed letter opener ... it's a bit thicker than most other types of blades. Use pliers with a fairly fine point I generally use vice grips but have used just ordinary stationary bulldog clips when vice grips have not been available. Use a soldering iron with a fairly fine tip For some flies I paint the lead shot red, orange or yellow.

Process

A
  1. This is an easy way to add a led shot to a hook shank. Take a lead split shot and using a knife blade open up the split.
  2. Press the shank of the hook down into the split in the shot and using a pair of pointed pliers crimp the split closed just enough to hold the shot in position.
 splitshot flies a

B
  1. Place your hook into a vice, or as I prefer into the jaw of a pair of vice grips. I use the vice grips or even an ordinary stationary bulldog clip to hold the hook as either give better control than the hook vice over the soldering process below.
  2. Because the shot is only lightly crimped on the hook shank you can still move it so carefully adjust the lead shot so that it's exactly where you want it when viewed from both the side and the front.
  3. Heat your soldering iron up and once hot place the tip of the soldering iron on top of the split of the lead shot to heat it up.
  4. As soon as you see the lead shot starting to melt introduce the solder to the soldering iron tip and it will run into the cavity in the lead shot locking the lead shot into its permanent position.
 splitshot flies b



Last Updated: August 26, 2017
Author:
Categories: Free fly tying
Tags: