Beads by Mona Golan
Mona Golan is a lady who lives with her husband in South Dakota. Together, they run an aviation maintenance company. Mona also has a glass studio called Flamewerks Glass Studio (http://www.flamewerks.com/) and she teaches lampwork bead making. Mona’s beads are breathtaking to see in person. She is a true master of the craft. Her beads come at a price but will enhance any fly tied with one.
Beads by Michelle McDowell
Michelle McDowell has a studio called Scotia Stained Glass, Inc and she makes exceptional quality spacer beads mostly.
Beads by Sharleen Gaye
Sharleen Gaye makes ceramic beads that to the untrained eye look like glass.
Beads by Kristy Bell 
Beads by Blue Heeler Glass
Chuck & Carolyn Driver both make lampwork beads under the name, Blue Heeler Glass. Their beads are also complex and beautiful. http://www.blueheelerglass.com/
Homemade Beads by Ronn Lucas Sr 
Beads by Heather Powell 
Beads by Jeff Barber 
Beads by Aimee Milan 
Beads by Sam Sypolt 
Beads by Matt Stoffolano
Should you take up tying free style flies with beads, you will necessarily be using very large hooks. Most common types of beads can be used on readily available blind eye hooks which are generally available in sizes up to 8/0 with fairly long shanks. The problem is that even many of the downsized lampwork beads require that the bead be placed to the rear of the hook and far enough back that the wing won’t run into it and force it up or deform the wing too much. This means that you need a longer shank hook. In comes Hook Meister Ron Reinhold, maker of the world’s finest blind eye hooks. Ron has a vast array of sizes and shapes of hooks he can make with 9/0 being the largest to date. Even on his largest standard 9/0 hook, some beads are not far enough away from the front of the hook or are too high. No problem, Ron will add length to any of his various shapes and sizes. I find the Noble S to be a pleasing looking hook to use not only for “normal” full dressed flies but, beaded free style flies as well. His Harrison Hollow Point is an awesome looking hook and I like the hollow point a lot. I use the 9/0 with 1 1/8” added length and the 8/0 with 1” added. The Harrison Hollow point is only available to size 7/0 so far and I have Ron add 1 ¼” to them.
Large extra long shank hook
These are very large hooks with the 9/0 coming in at about 4 1/2” long! I also had Ron cut and point some straight wire for me and I can bend and finish hooks that conventional shapes & sizes that will accommodate certain large beads. Of course, this will necessitate hardening, finishing and coating the hooks so it may not be an option you wish to use. These size hooks will not easily be tied with married wings and certainly will not be dressed with GP toppings. That’s fine with me since my love is dressing my free style flies with full feather wings and you will find unlimited feathers for these types of wings.
Flies by Joe Warren
Joe Warren literally wrote the book on beaded flies, “Tying Glass Bead Flies” published by Frank Amato Publications. The book lists sizes and gives in depth information on which size beads to use for which size hook. Joe is a great Tyer and inventive fellow. I would guess we both were drawn to tying with beads about the same time although we did not know each other at the time. Joe also sells glass beads to the tying market under the name of Columbia River Fly Fishing Adventures.
Flies by Duane Vigue 
Flies by Duane Vigue 
Flies by Duane Vigue 
Flies by Duane Vigue 
Flies by Duane Vigue 
Flies by Duane Vigue
Duane Vigue is no stranger to those of you who read Art of Angling. Duane ties & fishes the so called “Rangeley” style of streamers almost exclusive to any other type of fly and he ties his streamers commercially. Duane doesn’t typically tie or use tandems but these flies lend themselves to using beads between the hooks so he conjured up a few for me to present to you along with a few other flies.
Flies by Stu Farnham 
Fly by Scotty Howell 
Flies by Scotty Howell 
Flies by Scotty Howell
Stu Farnham, Scotty Howell and Ray Bradley are friends who tie beautifully crafted flies who weren’t using beads before I convinced them that they ought to give it a try. They’ve become hooked on them as I knew they would.
Flies by Ray Bradley
The bottom line is that using beads for flies can not only produce exceptional fish catching flies, it can be downright fun producing wild free style flies. I hope you will give it a try for either or both use.
Happy Trails!
If you have any questions about the flies or beads, I can be contacted anytime at 503-654-0466, Ronn Lucas, Sr., 13535 SE Beech, Milwaukie OR 97267 USA, ronn@ronnlucassr.com
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