{{start}}

AKA: Monofilament eyes

I am a firm believer that in some flies realistic eyes are a trigger that elicits a response from fish.

Whilst there are many ways of adding eyes to a fly one easy way to add a little more realism to a fly is to include a set of burnt monofilament eyes in the dressing of the fly.

Most recipes use the term "figure of eight wraps of thread" when describing how to tie in burnt monofilament eyes and other eyes that have two eye balls connected by a stem. Technically consecutive single wraps of thread as described in steps "E" and above in "F" below are called figure of eight wraps. From experienced I have found that its better to use the process below rather than consecutive individual figure of eight wraps.

The process for creating and tying in burnt monofilament eyes, using multiple diagonal wraps of thread, for a right handed fly tier is set out below. If your left handed don't forget to swap the instructions around.

A	Select a length of monofilament fishing line of an appropriate thickness, stiffness and color. I like to use between 20 lb and 40 lb Snider line for my burnt monofilament eyes because its relatively clear and quite stiff. Hold the monofilament line in a pair of hackle pliers about 10 mm from the end. Using a cigarette lighter, gas stove lighter, candle or another source of flame carefully burn one end of a length of monofilament line. Watch how it burns so that you know how much line to allow at the other end. Caution: Don't forget extreme care is required when working with naked flames. Have appropriate fire fighting equipment on hand and know how to use it.

B	When the burning end has balled up to the required size eye ball blow it out. Just wait a few seconds for it to solidify and cool down or dip it in some water.

C	Take hold of the monofilament just inside where you want the second eye to finish. Clip the monofilament off a distance outside the hackle pliers that is equal to the amount of monofilament that you saw burn away when you created the first eye.

D	Using your source of flame carefully burn the second end of the length of monofilament line the same distance as on the first eye. Just wait a few seconds for it to solidify and cool down or dip it in some water. The finished set of eyes should be the desired length and should have equal size eye balls. (Practice makes perfect)

E	Take the thread to the position on the fly where you want the burnt monofilament eyes tied in. Make sure that the thread foundation is tight and in touching turns. Using your left hand or your hackle pliers hold the burnt monofilament eyes by the back eyeball with the stem between the two eyeballs laying diagonally across the top of the hook shank directly above the thread and at right angles to the bend of the hook. Take four or five firm wraps of thread behind the front eye and in front of the back eye.

F	Transfer your grip on the burnt monofilament eyes to the front eyeball and pull it back so that the stem between the two eyeballs lays square to the hook shank and at right angles to the bend of the hook. Whilst holding the burnt monofilament eyes in that position take the same number of wraps of thread as you did in step "E" but this time in front of the front eye and behind the back eye.

G	Finish of tying in the burnt monofilament eyes by taking two or three tight wraps of thread above the hook shank but below the eyes. These tight wraps of thread pull the corners of the diagonal wraps in even tighter creating a strong link between the eyes and the hook shank.

{{end}}