Viking Lars | Saturday, 26 November 2022
I’ve spent a lot of time outside November 2022. Doing field archaeology, fishing, on the bike and it has been the warmest I can remember (not that I keep track). That means that some season and important baitfish have been around for longer - most notably sand eel. They usually disappear in the winter, but the water is still 8-9 degrees, so they are still here.
Yesterday I was invited to tie flies at the Black Friday Event-sale with my friends at Nordic Anglers (webshop). I quite enjoy attending these types of events. I’m sometimes invited to teach and demonstrate casting, sometimes to tie flies. Both are great opportunities to teach and benefit in different ways. Every time I teach casting I learn something new. And every time I teach or demonstrate fly tying, I usually tie flies I short on - win/win.
I needed (or more accurately, wanted) some smaller sand eels - only one left in the box. I managed to tie quite a lot, so I was left with five, even after giving some away.
IWhen I’m tying at these events, I tie simple flies. It makes little sense to tie flies that take 20 minutes. These are simple enough that I can tie one in 6-8 minutes., tie enough to replenish my own stock and give some away. I have come to like a material called Crystal Flesh. It has a perfect texture for smallish-medium sized bait fish and comes blended with flash (time saved). It will tangle every now and then, but not often and when it does, the material is easy to untangle.
Simple is good, because it’s doesn’t hurt as much to lose one. That doesn’t happen that often, though. I fish these on relatively thich leader with a fast retrieve. The pattern is listed below for those interested.
Have a great weekend!
Lars
Pattern:
Thread. UNI 8/0, white.
Hook: Ahrex SA 274 Curved Salt or Ahrex NS 172, size 8-4.
Tail/Body/Wing: Crystal Flesh in white and a contrasting colour for the back.
Eyes: Pro Sportifsher Flexi Eyes, size to match.
Head: Pro Sportfish UV Resin, Thin Flex.