fly eyes

[sandy]

Is there a particular reason that people tie junglecock eyes onto their flies? I always assumed that is was for show, but after seeing a lot of flies from the masters last weekend at the SWE fair I am wondering if I should be tying some in. I have seen a lot of larger patterns that use JC eyes and I think this goes against a lot of things I have read about eyes. For starters, larger baitfish tend to have larger eyes. I have also read that fish will key in on these features (not that anyone could ever prove that). I can understand using JC eyes on smaller flies, but why on large patterns? Why not put a realistic set of eyes on? Maybe it has to do with balancing the fly? Or maybe the price? Any thoughts would be appreciated. thanks.

[scruffy_fish]

Sandy,
Old school used JC eyes because they didn't have the great prizma or plastic ones that look so real today. The other method was to paint on the eyes on to the head with enamel paint. Your right, the fish key into the eye, I've had it happen. Lost an eye off a fly and it stopped taking fish!
Some of use use JC eyes only because they give the fly a classic look, and they do make a differance in taking fish, and fisherman :brow .
I personally (#$119) can't tye a classic salmon pattern with the new style eyes althought I'll bet it would work.

[skyomish]

I use jc for virtually all the "eyes" on my flies. It is visible from a much greater distance. And I like the "look"...

[Sean Juan]

Jungle Cock eyes also give off some natural luminance in the water at night...I'm sure a scientist could better explain it but I just think they are magical. So even a relatively small JC eye looks bigger in the water at night than a huge doll's eye - of course the Doll's eye rattles which is another set of variables.

If you have ever fished at night and waded in a current carrying baitfish you can see the water literally light up as the bait swirls around your legs - its way cool.

I use stick on glow in the dark eyes for my larger yak hair patterns - although in all honesty I can't say they work any better than flies with no eye's at all.

As with all things confidence is the key - if you have two flies in your box one with eyes and one without the one you select will be the one most likely to catch a fish - no getting around that. For me its the one with the eyes.

[sandy]

Thanks for the replies guys. Maybe I'll strap on some snorkel gear and do some underwater comparisons this summer.