Lead Free Wire - Spooled

If you are looking to stay away from lead or are fishing in an area where lead is not allowed, Lead Free Wire is a good alternative. Not quite as dense as lead but it will still help get your fly down. Great for kids tying, too!

General Size Recommendations:

 .020 - Medium Trout Flies (#6-#10), .025 - Heavy Trout Flies or Light salmon flies (#2-#8), .030 Good All-Around Size for salmon flies (1/0-#6), .035 - Very Heavy Salmon Flies of any size. 

We generally recommend using EITHER spooled lead wire or barbell eyes but not both. Using both seems to "deaden" the action of the fly. 

Wrap the lead wire from a point on the hook shank directly above the hook point to 1/8" behind the hook eye. Wrap in a bump of thread in front and behind the lead to keep it from sliding on the hook. For added strength you can cover the lead with thread wraps and/or place a drop of glue on the lead.