TYING A SANDEEL

Sandeels are not eels, but they have the appearance of eels and can grow up to 20 cm long. The fish is also an essential source of food for sea trout. Sandeels seek protection dug down in sand flats during the night while hunting for food during the daytime. The sandeel is easy to imitate, and the flies are catching a lot of fish.

• Materials
• Video Instructions
• Slideshow
• How to Fish the Sandeel

Materials for Sandeel

Part:	Materials:	Size/Color:
Hook:	Daiichi	2546 #4
Thread:	Veevus	White 14/0
Wing:	Steve Farrar’s Flash Blend	Bucktail White and Bleeding Mackerel
Head:	Fish Skull	Baitfish Heads Silver Small
Eyes:	Fisk Skull	Living Eyes Fire 4 mm

Video Instructions on How to Tie a Sandeel

Video coming soon.

Slideshow on How To Tie a Sandeel

Step 1 – Tie In the Wings

Tie in your tying thread close to the eye and make an even thread base with the same length as 1.5 to 2x the hook eye’s length. Take a small portion of white Flash Blend. The length should be 2 to 3x the hook’s length. Taper the fibers by pulling the tips before you tie them in. Take a new portion of Flash Blend in Bleeding Mackerel color with the same length as the white. Taper these fibers as well before tying them in. Secure your fly tying thread with a whip finish or a few half-hitches and some varnish before snipping off the thread.

Step 2 – Put On the Baitfish Head and Eyes

Add some UV Resin to the fly’s head before adding the Fish Skull Baitfish Head. (You should check if you can put the head onto the hook over the eyes before starting to tie the fly.) Cure the UV Resin with the UV torch. Put a drop of UV Resin into each of the eye holes on the Baitfish Head and add one Living Eyes to each. Make sure that the UV Resin is floating over the eye to prevent it from falling off. Cure the UV Resin with your UV torch.

How to Fish the Sandeel Fly

Sandeels are fast swimmers, but they do not have any swim bladder, so they sink when not swimming. It would be best if you retrieved the fly fast. You can do this by placing your fly rod under your arm and retrieve using both hands. Take some short breaks to let the fly sink before you start retrieving again.