Bead Fishing 101 | Big Y Fly Co.

Big Y Fly Co. discusses a popular method of fishing for steelhead; using beads. From how to rig them up to the various color options available, this is a general explanation of bead fishing.Find the products mentioned in this video on our website!
Beads:
www.bigyflyco.com/items/Fly-Ty...
Peggs:
www.bigyflyco.com/troutbeadspe...
Hooks:
www.bigyflyco.com/troutbeadsho...

[@mooseknuckle8334]

Great clip fella. Thanks for your time.!!! I had a Newfoundlander tell me this trick many moons ago. He mentioned he used some kind of dyed material that resembles an egg. Swore on his mum's grave that it would catch more fish than any gear I use. Thanks again. Instant sub and look forward to more material !!!!

[@paulasbell4183]

Hey Nick! Great demonstration on the "Peg & Egg"!

[@billbohobo3633]

Thank you very much for explaining the bead, why using a bead and showing us. This video is much more explanatory than other videos. Gonna go try it

[@richardgreene5119]

Well done! You're good & will be a blessing to your family on many fishing adventure. Stay humble, true, honest & faithful! Thanks.

[@redrazor4u2]

Nick very nice video and great information. Thanks for taking the time to help us all.

[@Aiiden22]

I never comment on fishing videos. However,you helped so much and you got straight to the point. *Thank you,so much. Have a great day*

[@Bigyflyco]

Anytime @AyyJay! Have a good day as well!

[@23v0lv32]

These are a great series of videos. Thanks for posting up. Sub'd!

[@Bigyflyco]

23v0lv32 glad you like them!

[@huntzz21]

I enjoyed the video and have used this method on spawning rainbows here in Montana. It works great. I did have to smile when you had your clippers on your line and not the tag end while finishing up your improved clinch knot. ;)

[@connorerhardt1767]

huntzz21 4:08 i was about to say the same thing

[@kellyharrison845]

Excellent video!

[@ajnunya5518]

Awesome video very informative for a newbie! Thanks!

[@slapnutzracing2152]

I sometimes run a bead above my dropper fly. Mostly with a larger flies like Wooly buggers and white death zonkers.

[@SantaCruzLocal]

Thank you for this video. I'm a newbie steel header and this will help tremendously.

[@Bigyflyco]

Timmo, Awesome glad to hear it! Please feel free to give us a call anytime if you have any questions.

[@turinreza]

@@Bigyflyco i thought when the trout bites the bead, the bead is suppose to slide down into the hook. meaning the bead knot is suppose to move along the line up to the hook . is the bead knot movable?

[@jacobma2188]

@@turinreza bead is supposed to stay stationary along the line and the hook follows the bead into the fish's mouth when you set the hook

[@JobraKai]

I would have liked to see this casted, seems like a great idea to do soft beads with a fly rod but man that setup seems like a beast to cast.

[@EatShredSleep87]

It’s not bad. If you’re already used to indicator fishing (multiple flies, shot, indicator) then this isn’t going to be anything challenging for you. A few adjustments and I’m sure you’ll cast these with ease.

[@aperfectdriftguidecompany]

I use the trout beads brand for all my guiding in Ontario and they work great.

[@briobrio6047]

Do u guys have an Instagram page? local angler frm ontario...

[@onlineguy3102]

@@briobrio6047 Graham's instagram is #ontarioriverguide

[@dynamicphotography_]

Excellent info. Thanks!

[@mohamedabdou6237]

great vid.man very nice presentation..God Bless

[@ppk45]

Nick, great video and info. I want to ask you a question about floating beads. Is floating a bead the same as jig fishing or should leader be longer for bead? how much longer? Thanks.

[@Bigyflyco]

Thomas V, your overall leader length is going to depend on water depth. For jigs, your leader length (distance between your indicator and jig) will typically be the depth of the water minus 12-18" (or wherever you would like the jig to be suspended). For beads your leader length (distance between indicator and split shot) should in general be longer; usually around 1.5 times the depth of the water.

[@pdxthriftking5033]

Toothpicks soaked in scent overnight work good as well.

[@jackpatzke5800]

Square toothpicks from a Chinese restaurant work better than a regular toothpick.

[@jimmascaro2456]

Nice down to earth presentation of info not some fast talking, sellin you something spaz. Subscribing.

[@randyr6610]

Nice demonstration I learned a lot never bead fish I am trying something new.

[@johnbreen5988]

I use glass and sometimes plastic beads with a snell rig, what would be the advantages disadvantages to soft beads?

[@cigrit1398]

Thank you this helped a lot

[@turinreza]

i thought when the trout bites the bead, the bead is suppose to slide down into the hook. meaning the bead knot is suppose to move along the line up to the hook . is the bead knot movable?

[@Mahigeer1]

Thank you for informative post. If there are on natural eggs in the water, would you still use beads as lure?

[@Bigyflyco]

Hashem, Yes you can, just do your best to use the color and size that comes closest to replicating what is in the water. If fishing in murky waters try bumping up a size or two.

[@Mahigeer1]

Thanks for the reply. My post has a typo. It should read "if there are NO natural eggs in the water....." not knowing the color and being off season for eggs, would you still use beads?

[@sjp2775]

One problem I see with that rigging technique is that wrapping the bead with the mono. If you snag up on the bottom or hook a fish, the line will probably cut the bead so that it will fall off or not be usable. Even if you get your gear back or land the fish......My $.02

[@A-R53]

Does this method work only in a streaming river? Does this method word in a lake as well?

[@nicolasbazan5038]

Caught my first salmon on this line with a new pole. I’m a happy guy

[@andyleffler2965]

Hi, i'm a coarse fisherman from the UK and watched your video with interest. With this set up , do you get a lot of deep hookups with the hook being below the bead ? If so maybe a hair rig below the hook with the bead attached would help to avoid this . Just a thought

[@Bigyflyco]

I find that most of the hook-ups are in the corner of the jaw, if not on the outside of the jaw. I have not had a problem at all with deep hooks when bead fishing and find that usually the hook ends up in a place that is easy to remove safely with minimal harm to the fish.

[@andyleffler2965]

Good to hear. I will try this next time i go trout fishing. Thanks

[@jacobzirkle9153]

Andy I’ve fished beads and being from Alaska have help this movement. The reason we started experimenting with pegging a bead was to stop fish from bleeding out from deep hook ups. Globugs would kill a large percentage of trout or steelhead if hooked deep or in the tongue. We started pegging beads in the early 90’s. Myself and a few others who were guiding at the time in the late 90s and early 2000 started missing with knots below the bead because our start started making fixed beads illegal. The people in the in now fish a 3 turn nail knot with the upper tag left on to stop the bead. Run a micro barrel swivel instead of a blood knot so you can change tippets or beads when needed. Place your weight above the swivel. Make sure you use a stiff mono 25-30 lbs so the tag is stiff. This is by far the best system. If you have any questions let me know

[@letun3481]

Great explanation! thank!

[@Bigyflyco]

Happy to do it, glad you enjoyed it.

[@PRACERZ]

Great vid, thanks !!

[@Bigyflyco]

Glad you liked it!

[@danijelbrdar]

Would a standard size 2 octopus gamagatsu hook work? I know they make soft ones as well..I assume these are solid? And any specific color you find work better?

[@Bigyflyco]

Yes gamakatsu octopus hooks would work and are prefer by some anglers. The black nickel and red are both used by anglers, some like the red as they believe it adds an additional attractant to the fly. Others like the black nickel as it is more subtle.

[@flyman451]

I used to use the Gamakatsu octopus hooks but they are just so damn expensive. I did a lot of research and found out that Owner (a great hook company) sells pro packs of their "Mosquito" hooks for $14.00 per pack. The price is always the same but the quantity of hooks is dependent on the size of the hook. I think I get 61 #10 hooks and 55 #8 hooks (or something close to that) Try them - they are also black nickel with a slightly angled up eye and are needle sharp. The price is about $.22 each compared to $.50 for the Gamkatsu hooks.

[@tylerlove9364]

Could you use the fly with a bead underneath a float setup? I'm in the process of getting a fly rod but I'm using a centerpin or open-face reel right now...

[@Bigyflyco]

Yes you can do this with a center pin setup. Believe I saw a article about doing that in a recent edition of Salmon Steelhead Journal. Hope this helps, let us know if you have anymore questions.

[@Bigyflyco]

Yes, you could totally do that, but you would need to add some extra weight. See ya out there!

[@mileshardin6906]

I only could find 6 and 8 mm beads. will those still work?

[@flyman451]

When you prepare to peg the bead why did you pass the tippet back through the bead a second time? Don't you feel the Peggz hold the bead firmly enough? I agree when I use 4X the bead sometimes seems too loose but 3X and a peg holds nice and firmly.

[@Bigyflyco]

We find that with a lot of split shot and long casts that the bead will still slide down the tippet if you don't pass it through a second time, this is even with 12lb Maxima. That second pass through helps "lock" the bead in place. If your not throwing long casts in fast water you can probably get away with not doing it.

[@flyman451]

Big Y Fly Company I use those PeggZ, the silicone gizmos with a slender taper on each end. You slip the tippet through the bead and tie on tour hook. Then you slide the PeggZ through the bead and snug it up but not too tight. I want the hook to be able to pass through the bead when the indicator gets pulled under or I detect a strike.I believe you but 12# Maxima has to be at least .010" thick so if you used these pegs I'm quite sure the bead would not move until you set the hook. I should of mentioned after you slide the peg through the hole you snip off the side closest to the hook and you can save the longer side for the next pegging.

[@flyman451]

I agree with your comment about if you use a heavy tippet, like 10# - 12# it is likely that when you put the peg into the hole in the bead it is likely that when a fish eats the bead the tippet won't be able to slide upward so the hook goes into the fish's mouth. I never use any tippet heavier than 3X (8#) when I use beads and the Pegs.

[@jamespittmann5047]

dont wrap your line around the bead.please...just dont.its unnecessary.toothpick do the trick or something similar that is rather smooth but still has a good hold.wraps around beads is just going to cause more chances of your line beaking

[@drecuz23]

You are only pegging a bead because the bead is too big..try small corkie..lots more hook ups

[@briancrawford1378]

Great job teaching !

[@stevenelliott3998]

Very helpful.

[@cqcqcqdx]

Thank you

[@robertbennett6418]

Maybe I'm missing the point but how does the fish get hooked when it bites the bead?

[@willshaw6405]

Good job.

[@anthonycummings6000]

Can I do this with a long spinning rod setup?

[@Bigyflyco]

You can, but the setup will most likely differ somewhat. There are a few youtube videos out there that show a better setup for spinning setups.

[@chiefdrey2397]

not sure if I missed it but what size bead would you use?

[@MichaelPhillips-jw4bj]

8 mm is average in great lakes , 10 for bigger water and pacific fish.

[@MichaelPhillips-jw4bj]

and 6 for low and clear

[@flyman451]

6mm for low and very clear, 8mm for low but not overly clear, 10mm for green water and 12mm for stained water.

[@victormendoza590]

Would anyone be able to tell me if this is legal in California?

[@neobandit9134]

thanks i just bought some of the beads

[@sixsixpks]

He's not talkin anal beads. 😂

[@areefhusainmollik8211]

Can I use 3 or 4 of those eggs for better attraction

[@Bigyflyco]

It would depend on the local regulations. Must people fish one with a nymph pattern.

[@HLuc]

I have tried bead fishing for couple of years, but do not catch anything!

[@GWAR1982]

Hung Luc a agree !

[@tysonseafoot7834]

Hung Luc I just caught a steelhead with a bead 2 days ago. Dead drift under an indicator. Depends on where you live as well.

[@johnsnyder9340]

The Ultimate fishing beads from Stone Cold Beads👍 ►stonecoldbeads.com ◀🎣🐟 ✅Heavy ✅Fast Sinking ✅Eco-Friendly ✅Made of Natural Stone Killer for catching salmon, trout, and steelhead. Check them out! 👀

[@treasurejames]

Will this work on chinook? Thanks

[@dereknesbit9378]

treasurejames people in my area use them, in the Great Lakes rivers. I don't know how well they work, but I know they are used.

[@Bigyflyco]

treasurejames yes we have caught a few chinook on the bead.

[@Bigyflyco]

treasurejames yes we have landed a few chinook using this technique

[@craigleith100]

Big Y Fly Company Hey man Nice1 👍😀 great vid n some great tips but i just wanted to know if the wild brown trout over here in Scotland would take these? and if so does it have to be a certain time of the year for these to work, my local trout river is 5 mins from my house and it runs right through Edinburgh city centre although it is like you are in the middle of the countryside most parts 😀 plenty wildlife too which is what i love so for it being in the city centre it is a very clean river system, i usually use maggots or worms but i want to try these and trout magnets and the pink rubber worms, We get sea trout too + grayling 😀 so im guessing the sea trout will come up stream to lay eggs and im hoping the brownies will take these. All the vids ive watched using beads, trout magnets, pink rubber worms and most power baits are being fished in the States and Canada, ive never seen them used over here 😞 so im hoping you have good news for me should you reply 😀 ✌👍💙🎣 from Scotland 🙋

[@Bigyflyco]

I'm not too sure about Scotland, but I have to image the trout would act pretty close to the same. Typically resident trout will sit behind anadromous fish as they spawn, eating eggs that don't make it down into the reds. That would be the best time to try this technique.

[@anthonyvelez3788]

Thanks

[@dennismosley3300]

How cn i order a few packs

[@Bigyflyco]

Dennis, Sorry for late reply. This link should help. www.bigyflyco.com/items/Fly-Tying/Fishing-Beads/list.htm

[@Chiefz]

use a trout bead peg way easier and straight line leader

[@netrich143]

💪

[@mackleswimbaits]

Fuckin A. Thanks for the info hombre

[@niall441]

This is corki fishing.

[@dennismosley3300]

The beads are any body home

[@thatsme7805]

fly fishing at its finest.

[@tonylowman8242]

And you searched it🤣

[@big1dog23]

Great video, but why bother with fly rods or calling it fly fishing?

[@mackleswimbaits]

It works just as well for spinning and bait casting gear, he was just presenting as a fly angler.

[@dynamicphotography_]

Versatility. Because you can pop that egg off and tie on a more traditional nymph and keep fly-fishing in order to keep trying different options in the same run. Maybe after a missed strike.

[@BeetleBuns]

because there's no difference between this and an egg fly

[@robbiek1999]

@@BeetleBuns IMHO, a fly is constructed with materials on a hook. This isn't a fly or flyfishing. The technique for the bead is the same to flyfishing an egg pattern. But he shouldn't call it flyfishing to his clients. While sockeye fishing on the Kenai, my guide suggested we try flyfishing eggs for the huge rainbows. He tied on a bead for my friend and I tied on my own egg patterns. My friend caught nothing on the bead and I caught some huge (one was 30" rainbow) on my egg pattern. I couldn't call it flyfishing if I had an egg.

[@BeetleBuns]

@@robbiek1999 I agree it's closer to a lure than a fly, but there are egg flies that are just colored epoxy on a hook (they suck btw, don't waste your money on them like I did. Nothing beats a nuke egg) that are basically the same thing, just attached to the hook. I'm on a streamer binge right now though, big articulated crap with tinsel and stuff, so I'm not exactly one to preach about what is and isn't a fly.

[@dmitrykamchatka]

+1

[@dalehiner5231]

Y not a Carolina rig

[@onearmedman9042]

Toothpicks are much better and won't destroy your team with plastic buildup

[@BraadH]

Some people dont believe in using toothpicks because they have a tendancy to fray your line if there Is any excess, the plastic trout pegs also can give an egg a blood dot look if you use a different colour.

[@jasoncox5700]

Warning if you get snagged and break off the bead will free float till a fish eats it.once eaten the fish will die because they cannot pass the plastic which will not break down.i found seven beads in hatchery steelhead last winter.if you want future fish you may want yo think about your choice of bait.

[@whiteriverslayer]

If you are using bead pegs it is totally pointless to loop the line through the bead. All that does is cause a weak spot in your line.

[@daviddavitadze9964]

Hello friend. I am from Georgia, I also fish. Can I be friends?

[@abc-df1vg]

Completely disagree with a 1-2" gap. I've never fished beads before, wool only. Don't like the mess of roe. Last year my buddy started using beads but was complaining about his hookup to land ratio falling way off compared to wool. He talked to other guys on the river they all agreed on the land ratio. I said it may be the gap between the hook and bead. He said that's the way they are supposed to be fished. Just looking at the setup if the fish grabs the bead the hook could be outside of the mouth with a 2" gap and setting the hook with it outside of the mouth will definitely increase the chance of a poor hook set. He disagreed and said that's the way everybody fishes beads. Fast forward to this year's Summer Red Springs on the Vedder and I slide the bead right on top of the hook. First two hits both fish comes to shore with hook and bead firmly set inside the mouth. Buddy loses his first two so he puts wool on the hook with the bead and gap and lands his next fish LOL. I'll be fishing no gap.

[@phillmccracken3192]

In most places regulations say it must be pegged 2 in from the bead. The hook is supposed to be outside the mouth and then when it is set it pulls into the outside corner of the mouth. This reduces hooking the fish to deep in its throat when they eat it, thus reducing fatalities which is important with vulnerable populations of steelhead given there declining numbers. 👍

[@abc-df1vg]

@@phillmccracken3192 In stand corrected . Thanks for the info. We don't have those regulations here and it now it makes sense for the gap.

[@rickfascinato9684]

no pegs required just use a bead knot

[@flyman451]

Disagree, the peg is much faster then passing the tippet back through the bead a couple of times and I think that might weaken the tippet.

[@Mahigeer1]

It is said that for every knot, the strength of the line is reduced by 1/2. Thus, one would think that a peg would be better than a knot.

[@flyman451]

Hashem N There is nothing better, or faster, than the gadget called a Peggit. It is a piece of silicone rubber about 2.5" long. It is tapered on both ends and in the middle, for about 1/2", it is slightly larger in diameter than the hole in beads. You insert the tippet through the bead hole and attach the bare hook. Then insert one end of the tapered rubber until it starts to get tight in the bead hole. Pull it slightly further through and cut off the short end and discard. Cut off the long end and use it for the next bead set-up. I think they come 30 in a package so you get 60 set-ups. They cost about $5.00.

[@flyman451]

The Peggit is much better than the method where you pass the tippet back through the hole in the bead 2-3 times. Besides it takes time to thread the tippet through the hole and it weakens the tippet.

[@bigmanlilcoat]

A clear bobber stop works as well

[@reelsteel]

This guy misses hard when explaining why you peg a bead. The reason is that it keeps the hook out of the throat of the fish. When a fish grabs the bead and you hookset, you pull the hook to the fish. This is why the weird hitch he did over the bead with tippet is also wrong. You want that bead to slide to the hook when a fish strikes.

[@lancehalberg4531]

Reel Steel no you don’t you don’t want that bead anywhere near the hook because it could pop the hook out of the fishes mouth dumbass

[@SeaDragonAngler]

great info, subbed your channel... if you get a chance check out our channel

[@reedlarson1600]

When my wife pegs me it’s quite different

[@mileshardin6906]

hmmmmmmm

[@GWAR1982]

Doesn’t work worth a crap!

[@andrewmarr2385]

Beads crush steelhead

[@tysonseafoot7834]

Wal Tom I just caught a steelhead with a bead 2 days ago on the stamp river.

[@jeffreyroberts1515]

My friends were using real single eggs and I outfished them with a peach bead with a red blood dot. Beads are the real deal!!!

[@osheaoutdoorspnw]

So boring

[@areefhusainmollik8211]

Can I use 3 or 4 of those eggs for better attraction

[@TheSteves75]

Just fish with eggs. This setup is the presentation of a bead coming down the river. If you are gonna use a bunch of them it's way easier to just use skeins of cured eggs.