Fly Tying Weight and Size Chart

Fly Tying Weight and Size Charts - Murray's Fly Shop

Fly tying materials are not an exact science and no where is this more evident than in the coneheads, eyes and beads.  From one manufacturer to the next and even with a year or two from the same manufacturer you will find variances.  Unfortunately there is no system wide standard or method to publish the measured weights of each item.  Therefore, we have compiled this list to give fly tiers a reference point when selecting eyes, coneheads, beads, etc from manufacturer to manufacturer. We measured several of each of the fly tying materials listed and have published the average in milligrams (1gram=1000mg, 1000mg=.035oz., 1000mg=15.43grains).  We found variances within manufacturers to be +/- 5mg. This list is a work in progress.
Updated 2-20-2025

Wapsi Painted Lead Dumbbell Eye Small 680mg
Wapsi Painted Lead Dumbbell Eye Medium 1030mg
Wapsi Original Lead Dumbbell Eye Plain XSmall 445mg 1/60oz
Wapsi Original Lead Dumbbell Eye Plain Small 680mg 1/40oz
Wapsi Original Lead Dumbbell Eye Plain Medium 940mg 1/30oz
Wapsi Original Lead Dumbbell Eye Plain Large 1345mg 1/20oz
Wapsi Original Lead Dumbbell Eye Plated XSmall 470mg 1/60oz
Wapsi Original Lead Dumbbell Eye Plated Small 680mg 1/40oz
Wapsi Presentation Lead Symmetrical Hourglass Medium 1460mg 7/32" diameter
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Copper 3/32" 40mg
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Copper 1/8" 145mg
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Copper 5/32" 185mg
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Copper 3/16" 620mg
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Black 3/32" 40mg
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Black 1/8" 145mg
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Black 5/32" 185mg
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Black 3/16" 620mg
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Gold 3/32" 40mg
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Gold 1/8" 145mg
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Gold 5/32" 185mg
Orvis Bead Head Beads - Gold 3/16" 620mg
Orvis Tungsten Conehead- Silver Small 820mg
Orvis Tungsten Conehead- Silver Medium 1035mg
Orvis Tungsten Conehead- Silver Large 1250mg
Orvis Tungsten Conehead- Gold Small 820mg
Orvis Tungsten Conehead- Gold Medium 1035mg
Orvis Tungsten Conehead- Gold Large 1250mg
Orvis Tungsten Conehead- Black Small 820mg
Orvis Tungsten Conehead- Black Medium 1035mg
Orvis Tungsten Conehead- Black Large 1250mg
Waspi Tungsten Conehead - Black Large 880mg
Waspi Non-Toxic Barbell Eye - White Medium 655mg 7/32"
Waspi Non-Toxic Barbell Eye - Plain Small 455mg 3/16"
Waspi Non-Toxic Barbell Eye - Plain Medium 670mg
Waspi Non-Toxic Barbell Eye - Plain Large 920mg
Rumpf Non-Toxic Barbell Eye - Black Small 435mg
FishSkull Sculpin Helmet Mini 520mg
FishSkull Sculpin Helmet Small 1300mg

 


Image courtesy Umpqua Feather Merchants

 

General Bead Size for Hooks Size Chart

Bead Size (mm & in)

Hook Size

Common Fly Patterns 
1.5mm |  1/16" 20-24 Small Emergers, Midges
2.0mm |  5/64" 18-22 Small Perdigons, Small Nymphs
2.3mm |  3/32" 16-20 Mayfly Nymphs, Mr. Rapidan Bead Head, Perdigons
2.8mm |  7/64" 14-16 Jig Head Nymphs, Mr. Rapidan Bead Head, Perdigons
3.2mm |  1/8" 12-16 Perdigons, Euronymphing Patterns
3.8mm |  5/32" 10-12 Stonefly Nymphs, BH Marauder
4.0mm |  5/32" 8-10 BH Marauder, Larger Nymphs
4.6mm |  3/16" 6-8 BH Streamers, Large Nymphs
5.0mm |  23/64" 4-6 Jig Patterns for Bass, 
5.5mm |  7/32 2-4 and > Crayfish Patterns, Jig Patterns for Bass
6.0mm | 1/4" 1/0-4 and > Articulated Patters, Crayfish, Heavy Streamers

The hooks that an actual bead will fit varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.  This chart indicates the most suitable bead size for a given fly size we have found.