Pike fly eyes

[Flieguy]

I was once told that pike flies with eyes catch way more fish that a similar pattern without eyes.

I'm starting to tie some pike patterns, what are your thought's on the deadly eye?

[Albertafisher]

I'm sure eyes help, I rarely fish a streamer pattern without eyes. My favorite eyes for pike flies are either CCG eyes or fish masks with Flymen eyes.

[jeprli]

I started using textile paint and after it dries I draw pupils. It works on most materials, a little tricky with deer hair. A bottle is around $7, most craft stores have it, there is enough paint in one bottle to make thousands of eyes. My choice is yellow.

Also heard red attracts pike....

[rycoma]

I like pike flies with eyes but from experience it doesn't matter. In the spring the pike will eat anything that moves.

[jeprli]

Including each other

[JReed]

To hell with eyes, top water flies are the best for pike! Nothing better than watching the water errupt and the line going tight

[Lornce]

I use doll eyes from Micheal's, lots of eyes cheap

[Pikebreath]

I like doll eyes as well. They show up well perhaps offering a target for the pike to grab onto ,,,and they rattle which gives the fly just another attribute to gather attention to itself.

That said, pike at times are not particularly fussy and ussually you can find a pike that will eat just about any fly you might throw at it. However I do feel there are some flies that will perform better than others if catching more pike is your goal. Eyes are a trigger that on certain days may get you a few more strikes. They certainly do not lower your strike ratio in my experience.

[rycoma]

Agreed on the eyes only problem with doll eyes one fish and there toast. Painted eyes last way longer. I found two tone flies work the best dark on top light on the bottom. Fav is black over chartreuse

[Lornce]

A coat of epoxy on the eyes make them pretty indestructible.