Making Booby Eyes (For Fly Fishing)

Creating the eyes for booby flies can be pretty tricky to get right, in this video I show a couple of methods that can help simplify their construction. Boobies can be one of the most effective stillwater patterns out there. Get it right and the possible patterns you can tie are only limited by your imagination.

[@upavonflyfishing3605]

Great tutorial Lindsay, thanks! Gunville foam cutters and foam blocks available to order via www.upavonflyfishing.co.uk Cutters (2.8, 3.5, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0 &9.0mm) Foam (Black, white, orange, red, green, beige, pink, purple, red and chartreuse) International postage available.

[@robertalexander7286]

Tied my first bobbies using your guide last night, brilliant, now just need to learn how to fish them.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

That’s so cool, I will try and get a video done next year on the fishing.

[@simon-fly3516]

This is interesting... the first time I saw one of these, it was made with 2 round balls of styrofoam and a lady's nylon to capture them. It was winter in Sweeden, it was cold and I hadn't yet caught a fish on a fly rod... I stepped on the ice, got my boots wet when it broke, stood by the fire for a while, and then, my mentor Per Lundstrom who taught me SOOO much gave me one of these booby eyes and rigged it on a spin cast with a large slit shot... let it sink, turn the crank slowly three times and wait, then repeat... second cast I caught my first trout on a fly, cheating... I was hooked! Thanks for the video... took me back on memory lane... this was in 1997...

[@lindsayiflyfish]

The booby is one of the most effective stillwater patterns out there.

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Great tutorial

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Thanks pal.

[@lovetheoutdoors9485]

Haha. I made the same tool out of an old bathroom rack that we had. Works like a charm.. I use it for something else tho. All the best to you and yours as well. 👊👊

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Back in the day we used to use old car ariels. The problem was they were quite thin and did not produce good tubes.

[@christinegraham9260]

Lindsay thanks for the video it's the best one out for the booby eyes keep up the good work m8

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Thanks 😊

[@shawnbarry3893]

I need to find some of the stuff let me know where I can find some would you thank you

[@lindsayiflyfish]

I get it from here pal www.upavonflyfishing.co.uk/

[@christinegraham9260]

Lindsay is this the cutters you use ureself

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Yes pal, used them for a couple of years now.

[@greenback2180]

Hi Lindsay. Love your videos. I have been tying my boobies without rounding the eyes and can't really figure out why I would go to the trouble of rounding them. However you have likely forgotten more about how to tie and fish booby patterns than I'll ever know so could you tell me why rounding the eyes is so important? Thanks.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Hi Matt, apart from the aesthetic look to the fly the reason I take such time over my eyes is the way the pattern swims in the water. Less rounded eyes will move much more erratically (Sometimes you want this) rounded eyes make the fly swim in a more fluid motion. I hope that helps.

[@greenback2180]

@@lindsayiflyfish Thanks much!!