In addition to Les' suggestions...
Clouser style patterns are very effective. Several of the people I fish
with do very well with simple dark green and white Fishair type ties on
Mustad 3407 hooks (or grey/clear even just totally white or clear). Don't
need to get to carried away on the eyes; small to medium barbells should be
fine and will be easier to cast than more heavily weighted versions. Keep
it sparse. Long and snakey is the goal here, since the natural you're
targeting - the sand lance (commonly, but incorrectly, referred to as a
candlefish) - is almost eel-like in appearance. As Les has pointed out,
they come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 1-1/2" to 3-1/2", depending on
when and where, so it's worthwhile having a range of sizes in your fly box.
Personally, I've done well over the years with a simple green over white
bucktail streamer tied on a TMC 9394 (typically #6 or #4) with a pearl
diamond braid body and a little tuft of white marabou for the tail. While I
tie it fairly long and sparse, it's still a little bulky and not a great
color match for the most sand lance, but for whatever reason it's been a
consistent producer for me since I started pounding the beaches a few year
back.
Incidentally, it's worth carrying a few small-medium muddlers or other
small, brown mottled patterns as well, especially if you're interested in
the searuns that frequent our beaches most of the year. Searuns, and even
coho at times, will feed on the sculpins and other small bottom-huggers that
can be a major presence on many Puget Sound beaches(especially the cobbly
bottomed ones) year around. BC guys seem particularly fond of this type of
fishing and have developed pattern called the Rolled Muddler specifically
for this purpose. There's a good article on Rolled Muddler fishing, along
with tying instructions and some photos, at the Waflyfishers Website
(http://www.waflyfishers.com/pages/fly.html).
-Wes
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Fliger [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 10:14 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Salmon flies
>
>
> This year will be my first for fly fishing for salmon in the
> sound. I am curious as to which patterns work best or are your
> favorites. I have seen a number of patterns for catching salmon
> on the rivers but very few for saltwater. Any patterns will help.
> Thanks
> Dave Fliger
> Bremerton
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