Fishing & Hunting News
Guide Flies
July 3, 2003
by Tony Lolli

Sand Lance
No, this is not a spear for probing the beach in search of left-over Bay Watch babes. You could get slapped, or worse. Instead, this is a fly designed by Chris West (www.pugetsoundflyfishing.com) who also guides for Emerald Water Anglers (www.emeraldwateranglers.com) in Seattle. Chris reports the sand lance is the most abundant baitfish in the Northwest. Given that they are also common on the East Coast, the pattern may be worth a try there as well.

Tying Instructions
1. Tie in Bodi-Braid behind the eye, wrap to the bend.
2. Wrap thread from the eye to the bend and back.
3. Wrap the Bodi-Braid back to 1/4 inch from the eye.
4. Measure and cut each of the following materials to 3-inch lengths before tying in.
5. Tie in Gliss'N Glow (MOP) under the hook at the 1/4 inch mark so it is pointing toward the eye and away from the bend (backward).
6. Tie in Olive Flouro Fibre, backward, on the top of the hook.
7. Tie in Clear Ice Gliss N' Glow, backward, on the bottom side of the hook.
8. Tie in Gray Flouro Fibre, backward, on top of the hook.
9. Repeat the last step with Gliss N' Glow MOP Root Beer.
10. Pull the top wings back over the hook and secure with thread at the tie-in spot.
11. Pull the bottom wings back under the hook and tie in.
12. Whip finish.
13. Apply eyes.
14. Epoxy over both eyes, completely covering the head.
15. Place in a turner for 60 minutes and let the epoxy cure for 24 hours.

Sea-run cutthroat, blackmouth (immature Chinook) salmon, steelhead, Coho, Chinook, Pinks and Chum have all been taken on the Sand Lance, which is fished by long, arm length retrieves. (For those of you who served in the armed forces, this should not be confused with short-arm techniques). The Sand Lance has become Chris' saltwater searching pattern. It serves the same purpose as the beadhead Pheasant Tail does in freshwater. Sand Lance live around kelp beds, rock ledges, eel grass and sandy bottoms. It turned out to be a good alternative pattern for use when bait balls are not present.

Bait balls?!? I'm not even going there.