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Aug 2002
by Rich Johnson
Fly of the Month: Needlefish
Notes: This month I am featuring a pattern for saltwater silver salmon that was developed by Hank Pennington, a club member that lives on Kodiak Island. Hanks one of those guys that I pay attention to when he talks. Patterns that he develops are well thought out and are designed for the fish, not just the angler. Vary the size of the hook and the length of the fly to approximate the size of the sand lances present when you are fishing. This can run from a very slender 2 inches to a pencil thick 6 adult. Its better to have a fly that is shorter rather than too long. Hank rarely ties his flies longer than 4 to ease casting and storage in his boxes.
A similar pattern from Hank, the Sand Candy, is being featured in the current (August) issue of Fish Alaska magazine.
Of the HP Needlefish and Sand Candy Hank also wrote I vary those styles of ties by adding (marabou) to the tails. They are technically good because the Super Hair keeps the marabou from wrapping around the hook when casting. They are also good producers in low light and on slower retrieves, due respectively to the more solid profile and to the extra action of the marabou.
Did I tell you this guy was sharp or what?
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Thread: White
Tail: Super Hair, or similar synthetic, Aqua (Lt Blue) over Brown
Body: Pearl Diamond Braid
Wing: Peacock Herl over Gold Krystal Flash
Throat: White bucktail
Eye: Silver stick-on, Mylar or 3-D
Head: Softex, Soft Body, or Epoxy |
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1) Put a thread base from behind the eye to the rear of the shank. |
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2) Tie a slender bunch of brown Super Hair, or similar synthetic fiber. Notice that Im keeping the butts as long as the shank to maintain an even under body. |
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3) Tie in a slender bunch of lt. blue Super Hair. Trim the bi-color tail to form a natural taper. |
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4) Tie in the pearl Diamond Braid and bring your thread forward. |
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5) Select 4-6 peacock herls. (I prefer the tapered herl off an eyed feather) measure them to be just longer than the length of the hook shank and the tails. Tie them in so that the tips face forward.
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6) Tie in a half dozen strand of gold Krystal Flash over the peacock, as long as the peacock.
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7) Invert the hook and tie in a slender bunch of white bucktail (12-24 hairs) with their tips pointing forward.
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8) Trim and bind down the butt end of the peacock, K.F., and bucktail. Leave the thread at the front just behind wing/throat tie in spot..
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9) Wrap the Diamond Braid forward and tie off. Whip finish and cut the white thread.
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10) At the back of the body, just pass the hook point attach a bright thread to be used for temporary wraps.
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11) Pull the Krystal Flash and peacock herl to the rear and tie down with a couple of wraps.
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12) Invert the fly and pull the bucktail to the rear and tie down with a couple of wraps. Do a three wrap whip finish and trim the thread.
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13) Add the eyes about a third back from the hook eye.
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14) Dip the head and body of the fly in Softex, or thick Soft Body, coating about 2/3 of the body. (Do not coat the bright thread!) Clear the eye and allow the fly to dry to the touch with its head pointed up. Dip it one more time, clear the eye and allow to dry overnight. (I used epoxy to coat my fly. I have to rotate it until it cures, but its a one-coat deal and makes the fly slightly nose heavy.) After the body has dried carefully pick free the temporary thread.
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