BBTO 50 Pieces Fly Tying Material - Realistic Dumbbell Eyes Review
Our verdict
The BBTO 50-piece dumbbell eyes deliver a 4.6-star average across 251 reviews for $15.19, the highest rating of the fly-tying materials compared here. At 4.8mm and built from iron and zinc, they are sized for crappie, trout and panfish patterns rather than heavier saltwater ties.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Anglers tying panfish, trout and crappie flies who want a 50-piece supply of 4.8mm dumbbell eyes in three colors, yellow, green and red, without ordering single-color packs one at a time.
Skip if
Skip this if you fish saltwater patterns that need more weight than 4.8mm provides, or if you only tie a handful of flies a season and do not need 50 pieces on hand at once.
- Material Iron, Zinc
- Weight 0.04 Kilograms
- Target Species Crappie Trout Panfish
- Technique Fly Hook
- Size 4.8 mm
- Color yellow, green and red
- Priced 52% above the category median ($9.99 across 67 tracked models)
Our scorecard
-
Owner rating4.6/5
4.6 average across 251 owner ratings
-
Popularity2.7/5
251 owner reviews, more than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Tying panfish and trout patterns that need to sink fast calls for a reliable set of dumbbell eyes, and the BBTO 50-piece kit at $15.19 covers three colors, yellow, green and red, in a single 4.8mm size built from iron and zinc. Fifty pieces is enough for a full season of crappie jigs without reordering mid-summer.
Against the field of fly-tying materials tracked here, BBTO's 4.6-star average across 251 reviews is the highest of the four, edging out Hareline Natural Elk Hair at 4.5 stars (110 reviews), Hareline NB377 at 4.2 stars (550 reviews) and Hareline CDC28 at 4.0 stars (359 reviews). NB377 has logged far more review volume and even shows 50+ units bought last month, while BBTO's own bought-last-month figure sits at 0+, meaning no recent purchase volume has been logged for this listing.
At $15.19 for 50 pieces, the per-eye cost lands between the cheaper single-color Hareline options and the pricier NB377. The fixed 4.8mm size and three-color assortment make this a straightforward buy for anglers who tie a consistent style of weighted fly rather than needing a range of eye sizes.
Pros
- 50 pieces per pack for $15.19, covering a full season of crappie and trout ties without reordering
- 4.6-star rating across 251 reviews, the highest of the four fly-tying options compared here
- Iron and zinc construction sized at a consistent 4.8mm for repeatable weighting
- Three-color assortment, yellow, green and red, in one pack instead of separate single-color purchases
- Sized specifically for crappie, trout and panfish patterns
- InStock availability at a straightforward price point
Cons
- Bought-last-month figure of 0+ means no recent purchase activity is logged, unlike NB377's 50+
- Only one eye size, 4.8mm, so heavier saltwater patterns need a different product
- 251 reviews trail NB377's 550 and CDC28's 359, a smaller sample to judge consistency from
- Fixed three-color assortment offers less choice than single-color packs sold separately
Specifications
| Material | Iron, Zinc |
|---|---|
| Weight | 0.04 Kilograms |
| Target Species | Crappie Trout Panfish |
| Technique | Fly Hook |
| Size | 4.8 mm |
| Color | yellow, green and red |
| Pieces | 50 |
Performance notes
The listed 0.04-kilogram weight covers the full 50-piece pack, working out to well under a gram per dumbbell eye, consistent with a 4.8mm size built for panfish, trout and crappie patterns rather than bulkier saltwater ties. Iron and zinc construction gives the eyes enough density to sink a small to medium fly quickly without adding so much bulk that the hook rides poorly. Because the size is fixed at 4.8mm, tiers working this pack should expect a consistent sink rate fly to fly, useful for reproducing the same jig pattern repeatedly rather than mixing weights within one box. The three included colors, yellow, green and red, let a tier match local forage or water clarity without buying separate single-color packs, though anyone needing a heavier or lighter eye for different depths will need a second product alongside this one.
What buyers say
A 4.6-star average across 251 reviews is a strong pattern for a fly-tying component, and it is the highest rating among the four products compared here. That said, the bought-last-month figure sits at 0+, meaning the listing shows no recent purchase volume, a contrast to Hareline NB377 which logs 50+ despite a lower 4.2-star average. That gap suggests BBTO's review base was built up over time rather than through a current surge in orders. For a niche accessory like dumbbell eyes, a 251-review sample is respectable, sitting between Natural Elk Hair's 110 and Hareline CDC28's 359, enough volume to trust the rating without it being an outlier count.
Similar fishing gear and tackle to consider
- Chenille
Chenille Fly Tying Materials 16-Color Kit Fly Tying Supplies for
$15.99100+ bought last monthView on Amazon
Featured in
Frequently asked questions
What size are the BBTO dumbbell eyes?
Each eye measures 4.8mm, a size built for crappie, trout and panfish flies rather than larger saltwater streamers. The pack ships in three colors, yellow, green and red, with 50 pieces total for $15.19, and the iron-zinc construction keeps the weight consistent from eye to eye.
How does the rating compare to other fly-tying materials?
At 4.6 stars across 251 reviews, BBTO rates higher than Hareline NB377 (4.2 stars, 550 reviews), Hareline Natural Elk Hair (4.5 stars, 110 reviews) and Hareline CDC28 (4.0 stars, 359 reviews), the highest average of the four, though its bought-last-month figure of 0+ trails NB377's 50+.
What material are the eyes made from?
The dumbbell eyes are built from iron and zinc, a metal combination chosen for weight density so patterns sink at a consistent rate. The full 50-piece pack weighs 0.04 kilograms, well under a gram per eye, and ships in a fixed 4.8mm size across three colors, yellow, green and red.