More about beads

More about the new jig hooks and the beads that are to work on them;

Allen J100BL #14 & #16 good looking hook but very thin wire, just too thin heck they even bend in the vise plus about 40% of the tung. beads will not fit even after the barbs have been smashed down. Allen beads are not up to standards that are acceptable, more on that to follow.

Umpqua C400BC #14 & #16 Great heavy wire hook s with a very nice round bend, good points and none bent in the vise! Used Hareline Tung beads in 2.8 & 3.3 mm but only 4 out of nice made it past the bend, what a pain in the ass. Tried some normal non slotted beads and they worked as they should even the new "Bug Collars" worked well.

Daiichi #4647 #14 & #16 Nice heavy wire hook but they have a Limerick bend and that means the beads have to be perfect to go around the bend, well non of the slotted beads worked! I tried normal beads and got them past the bend and so did the bug collars.

  I contacted Hareline and was told that the molds for the slotted beads are being reworked to expand the holes to allow for better fit- a work to the wise- wait till the new beads hit the market and that will not be for a while. I'm guessing that maybe one company in China makes all the slotted beads and it does not matter where you buy them you will have the same problem, lots of luck! The beads in question are Tung. black slotted beads in 2 2.3 2.8 3.3mm sizes. It is not you it's your materials.
  I will say that the new Bug Collars seem to be a really great item but time will tell how effective they will be but I know a section of Spring Creek where the rainbows will eat the crap out of the pink ones! Oops almost forgot to tell you that the new bug collars work best with the old style beads not the new slotted ones, they need a concave surface to seat against, so it is standard bead first then the bug collar seated tight against it.