Hi Kev still learning as you know, my experience thus far has me see that so far especially on Kings I have not been able thus far to detect a preference for or without eyes. I have tied some pretty manky looking flies but sort of crudely similar to the comono special, but without the eyes.They don't seem to give a rats ass about the eyes but more the materials used, so far the really flowing materials seem to work the best and continue to outfish other patterns )of course this may reflect the way I am using them), also and again only what I have observed they don't seem to be really switched on by flies that contain a lot of sparkly stuff, fish are still being caught but no where near the rate as the flies with less. As for other species almost all my snapper, trevally, have been caught with patterns with some sort of eye, I did however trial a new fly based on a pattern that you sent me and this had no eye and I caught a PB snapper so again I'm not sure as I didn't catch multiple snapper that day. In summing up I feel in my case I sort of like to see the eyes as it makes me feel better about the fly I'm using, however the results to date would suggest otherwise...
I think this is a very interesting thread and it seems every post here carries the answer to a greater and lesser degree.
I am a big fan of eyes on flies for both reasons outlined... fish catching and aesthetics.
I believe, in the situations outlined by Matt in regards Surf candies imitating transparent bait fish they are a very important trigger. And I think we are essentially discussing triggers here and are Eyes a trigger?
Jaapie wrote: Only thing is working with the dreaded epoxy again ... although there is a new product apparantly available in the States that I just heard about that uses ultra violet light to set the 'glue'. No mess, quick and you choose how quickly you want the stuff to set. Might have to look into this as I loathe working with epoxy!
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Good response mate....thanks!
When we were on Xmas the guides had a strong preference for flies with eyes. I wonder clark, if a lot of those transparent or highly camouflaged shrimp style patterns benifit from eyes. I reckon they do. It could be the release trigger that makes them different from crabs? - where the release trigger (eyes staring back at the predator) might be the more obvious claws or legs?
I think eyes now also give me more confidence in the fly that I am using and thats critical to my success.I agree totally and meant to mention those Big game lures too... but then you are also correct about ceder Plugs.... That's the beauty of the sport of flyfishing.
The same as in trout fihsing, you might get him on a simple old hare and Copper, or it may require an extended body parachute dun.....
Such is the sport we pursue, and I often think we take it far more seriously than the fish and they are fighting for their lives....
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