The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Other

Surf Candy

Insect Species Icon None
Difficulty Icon Medium - 7-10 Min
Water Category Icon Saltwater, Warmwater

Tying Video

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Tying Recipe
  • Hook: 1/0 2x heavy 2x short
  • Thread: UTC monofilament .006
  • Tail: Candy crush niceabou in tan, white clear, and olive
  • Body: Fleye foils bay anchovy medium
  • Flash: Large pearl flashabou
  • Resin: UV cure resin in thick, then thin to fill holes, then ultra thin to smooth the body
  • Special Tools: It is recommended to tie this fly with a rotary vice for easier resin application. A bodkin also helps with this as well.
  • Hook: Any straight eye, strong wire, short shank hook will do. If using this fly in salt, be sure to get salt hooks, as freshwater hooks will corrode.
  • Thread: If you don’t have monofilament, thick white thread will work fine.
  • Tail: This is the tailing material for this specific pattern.
  • Body: This is the specific material for this specific pattern.
  • Flash: Feel free to use any large flash, for a change up, try using lateral scale flash!
  • Resin: 2 part epoxy will work, but be mindful of the cure time
  • Special tools: If you don’t have a rotary vice and don’t mind getting glue on your hands, try applying the resin with the hook in your fingers. Using a bodkin will always help, or a sewing needle, or even a old hook point that is straightened out.

With only a few materials in this fly, the only thing that can really be changed is the colors or size. Consider buying colored UV resin like red and black for some great accents along the body!

This is a very lifelike fly and swims very much like a jerk-bait style lure or fluke style soft bait with the erratic action you get with an aggressive retrieve. The foil in the fly will give this fly some shine much like a spoon would as well. This fly is incredibly light weight, with no dumbbell eyes or wire weight, which makes casting this fly a breeze. This fly is originally designed for striper fishing, but you can use it in just about any scenario where fish are crushing smaller minnows and baitfish, in either fresh or salt water.

Fish this fly with an aggressive stripping retrieve with medium to short pauses in between for the best results. If fishing deeper water a sink tip is a must, or try adding a few split shot to your tippet for shallower depths. Adjust the length of the pause relative to the water temperature if fish are not already active. Longer pauses when the water is cooler and fish are lethargic, and shorter pauses for warmer water temperatures. This can be a great searching fly for blind casting to oyster beds or channels, as well as a great imitation for fish blitzing on bait balls looking for that easy meal.

None

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