What it is
Hareline Real Eyes Plus are fly-tying dumbbell eyes made from machined solid brass, with an enamel iris and pupil built into the finish. They add durable, balanced weight up front and give a clean, realistic “eye” look without needing anything glued on. Because they’re solid and shaped to lash down, they stay put when you cinch them in.
What to tie with it
Use them as streamer eyes and as the weight on the head of baitfish patterns, lashing them to the shank with tight figure-eight wraps and firm thread tension. They’re also a straightforward way to build weighted flies that ride and keel correctly, especially when you want the head to be the weight. They show up in bonefish patterns as a simple way to get a fly down and give it a defined head.
Flies and the fish they're for
The Clouser Minnow is the classic place these dumbbell eyes live, since the eyes are both the weight and the trigger point at the head. Fished in freshwater it’s a staple for smallmouth and largemouth bass in rivers and lakes, and in salt it’s a go-to for stripers along beaches and rips. Tie the same concept for flats work and it’s right at home for bonefish where you need a fly that sinks and tracks well.
How it compares
Compared to adhesive eyes, these are meant to be tied in as a secure, weighted part of the fly, so they resist popping off because there’s no glue joint doing the work. Adhesive eyes can look good, but they don’t give you the same tied-on security or built-in head weight.
