What are Jig Bombs
The Umpqua Jig Bombs make you rethink the way you add weight to your fly patterns.
These tungsten beads are a better way to add weight to any pattern vs the traditional barbell styles.
The trend of large dumbbell eyes to add more weight means that tyers lose shank length and horizontal profile.
The unique shape of the bomb beads frees up 15% more hook shank to create a body either over or around the teardrop shape. You can “hide” the bead in a body – take for example something like the Cyborg Shrimp.
The worst look is when you have a thin profile shrimp body, then large lead or dumbbells protruding out the sides. This also hurts the landing/entry of the fly. These beads negate that problem by hiding and providing a better entry to the water.
The way the weight is positioned on the shank of the hook and the lower center of gravity will flip any hook much easier and turn it into a hook-point-up orientation that we strive for in our fly patterns.
This means that flies maintain great proportions and drop into the zone in the right orientation and stay there.
These bomb beads are built into Umpqua’s specialized collection of flats flies called Survive Entry. The sky is the limit with creativity when it comes to these beads. Available in 2.5mm-5.0mm and a rainbow of colors.
Jig Bombs are the standard to which all other beads are measured against.
| Bead Size | Weight |
|---|---|
| 2.5MM | 2.1 Grains |
| 3MM | 3.7 Grains |
| 3.5MM | 6 Grains |
| 4MM | 9.3 Grains |
| 5MM | 14.6 Grains |
Fine-tuning and weight adjustment.
Another main plus of these beads is weight adjustment. Mixing and matching bead sizes allow you total control of where the fly will be in the water column. With the adjustments up to 2.1 grains, you can precisely get any sink rate you are looking for. The teardrop design allows you to stack multiple weights while retaining hook shank and profile.
| Bead Size | Situational use |
|---|---|
| 2.5MM | Perfect for smaller shallow bonefish/flood tide redfish size hooks. #6-#2 |
| 3MM | Still used for shallow flats, I use these to flip over #1 hooks |
| 3.5MM | This size is a more general use size, great for a range of situations similar to a medium beadchain. Hook size from #4-#1 |
| 4MM | Think of this size as a medium-large lead eye. When you need to get a little deeper, 2-4 foot range. |
| 5MM | Like a large lead eye, this 5mm bead will plummet down pretty quick, great for permit or heavy bonefish flies. |
Attachment method
This might be the only drawback to these beads – they do take a little more time to attach. (See video above for references)
1. Grab 16lb monofilament or anything under .406mm in diameter, we like the Saltwater Hard Mono (Works for all bead sizes)
2. Flatten the whole surface with flat jaw pliers (Flat Jaw Pliers)
3. Tie down the tip of mono on the top of the hook shank.
4. Slide the bead onto the mono all the way, with the convex side of the bead toward the hook point.
5. Tie down the mono on the convex side tightly keeping the mono on the topside of the shank.
6. Make a few parachute wraps around the whole bead.
I personally think these Jig Bomb Drop Beads are going to be a massive thing in the saltwater tying game. I’ve switched to them and I am loving the results. I highly suggest you grab a pack or two and give them a shot. Yours truly – Mike P (Jr.).
