A staple in Alaska but now sweeping the Great Lakes and "Steelhead Alley" as well!!
Despite some controversy, beads are flat out effective "lures" for steelhead and salmon.
When "matching the hatch" or "matching the egg drop"- fish the 6mm as trout and sockeye eggs, 6-8mm as Coho and Chum eggs, and 10-12mm as King eggs.
6mm- clear water and highly pressured Steelhead and trout
8mm- clear water and a great all around size for Steelhead and trout
10mm- great size for Steelhead and Alaska
12mm- great for steelhead and salmon especially in high water conditions
Hook Recommendations:
6mm- Steelhead use Daiichi 1650 #10 or TMC2488H #12 and for trout TMC 2488H #12-14
8mm- Steelhead and trout Daiichi 1650 or TMC 105 #10
10mm- Steelhead and Salmon Daiichi 1560 or TMC 105 #6-8
12mm- Steelhead and Salmon Daiichi 1560 or TMC 105 #4-6
Using the TB Peggz or a toothpick, peg the bead 1-2 inches above the hook and fish them as you would a nymph or glo-bug. The Blood Dot beads listed here which are great but check out the Mottled beads and the standard beads as well.
These eggs also work great for tying tube flies.....they fit right on HMH .031" Micro Tubing and can then be nested inside small diameter rigid tubes. Talk about easy egg sucking leeches!!!!