Hareline Multihued Rainbow Brass Beads

What it is

Hareline Multihued Rainbow Brass Beads are brass fly-tying beads with a multihued rainbow finish. They’re light reflective, add weight up front, and help a fly track hook-point up when used as a head. Being brass, they’ll get you down, but they sink slower than beads made from heavier metals.

What to tie with it

Use them as a weighted head on nymphs and small streamers by sliding the bead onto the hook before you start the thread, then building a clean thread dam behind it to lock it in place. They also fit naturally on salmon and steelhead flies and attractor patterns when you want a little extra flash at the front. They’re a straightforward way to add weight and a reflective focal point without changing the rest of your recipe.

Flies and the fish they're for

A Pheasant Tail Nymph with a brass bead head is a staple mayfly nymph imitation for trout in rivers and tailwaters. That same bead-head approach also translates to weighted nymphs fished for panfish and smallmouth in streams and ponds when you want the fly to ride a bit deeper. In salmon and steelhead patterns, a bead head is commonly used to help the fly drop into the lane and give the fish a bright target in moving water.

How it compares

Compared with other metal beads, brass gives a slower sink rate than heavier options. Versus typical brass beads that come in fewer finish options, these bring a rainbow effect; and compared with Hareline Dazzle Brass Beads, the sink rate is similar, but Dazzle offers a wide color range without the rainbow finish.