The eyes have it

There is a reason I prefer using red prismatic eyes. Not because minnows have red eyes, but because they do double duty as gills.

There is debate over whether all the trouble we tiers go through to add eyes to our shrimp and bait fish patterns really mean anything to fish. The theory of some is that if eyes do work it is simply because the fisherman is more confident with the fly. He or she likes the way it looks and fishes it more and presents it with a bit more care.

For my part I tend to agree that an angler liking the fly and having confidence in it works. I also think that in some bait species eyes are a dominant feature and a strike trigger. My opinion is that shrimp are an example. Their eyes glow red when hit with light at night, and they are black bulls eyes on a very well camouflaged shrimp during the day.

So don't thing for a second your wasting your time making those epoxy eyes for your shrimp patterns gosh darn it.

A shortcut, and the neatest trick I have seen is a gentleman who uses cheap grocery store hair brushes for shrimp/crawfish/crap eyes. They are light, uniform black plastic with a little bead already on top. Brilliant and you can get about a hundred for about a buck. Way, way cheaper than from a fly shop. Just keep the brush handy at your tying station.