Surf Candy

Surf Candy
Surf Candy
	Artificial fly
	Surf Candy variation
Type	Saltwater streamer
History
Creator	Bob Popovics
Created	1970s
Materials
Typical sizes	4 - 4/0
Typical hooks	Standard saltwater or long shank streamer
Thread	3/0 white monochord or monofilament
Body	Silver Mylar
Wing	White ultrahair
Cheek	Red floss or red marker
Topping	Green Flashabou or Krystal Flash
Uses
Primary use	Saltwater fly fishing. Imitates sand eels or other small baitfish
Reference(s)
Pattern references	[1]

Last updated February 25, 2019

Surf Candy is style of artificial fly used primarily in saltwater fly fishing to imitate small sand eels and other small baitfish. The style was developed by American fly tier Bob Popovics in the 1970s for bluefish, tuna and striped bass on the Atlantic coast.^[2]

An artificial fly or fly lure is a type of fishing lure, usually used in the sport of fly fishing. In general, artificial flies are an imitation of natural food sources which fly fishers present to their target species of fish while fly fishing. Artificial flies are constructed by fly tying, in which furs, feathers, thread or any of very many other materials are tied onto a fish hook. Artificial flies may be constructed to represent all manner of potential freshwater and saltwater fish prey to include aquatic and terrestrial insects, crustaceans, worms, baitfish, vegetation, flesh, spawn, small reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds, etc. Effective artificial fly patterns are said to be killing flies because of their ability to put fish in the creel for the fly fisher. There are thousands of artificial fly patterns, many of them with descriptive and often idiosyncratic names.

Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial "fly" is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or "lure" requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting. Fly fishermen use hand tied flies that resemble natural invertebrates, baitfish, other food organisms, or "lures" to provoke the fish to strike.

Sand eel or sandeel is the common name used for a considerable number of species of fish. Most of them are sea fish of the genera Hyperoplus, Gymnammodytes or Ammodytes. Many species are found off the western coasts of Europe from Spain to Scotland, and in the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas.

Origins

Surf Candy as a saltwater fly design was originated by Bob Popovics, an American fly tier from New Jersey. Popovics pioneered the use of epoxy to create durability and translucency in saltwater flies. Bluefish were notorious for quickly damaging flies with their sharp teeth and Popovics began experimenting with epoxy bodied flies in 1970 to improve durability.^[3] However, it wasn't until the late 1980s that Popovics introduced the Surf Candy style to the public.^[4] The original Surf Candies were tied with bucktail or polar bear hair but the flies quickly evolved with the use of synthetic materials like ultrahair.^[5] Although the original purpose of the epoxy was for durability, it had the added side-effect of providing translucency for the body, a characteristic that enhanced imitations of a wide variety of baitfish.

The polar bear is a hypercarnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is a large bear, approximately the same size as the omnivorous Kodiak bear. A boar weighs around 350–700 kg (772–1,543 lb), while a sow is about half that size. Although it is the sister species of the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrower ecological niche, with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice and open water, and for hunting seals, which make up most of its diet. Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time on the sea ice. Their scientific name means "maritime bear" and derives from this fact. Polar bears hunt their preferred food of seals from the edge of sea ice, often living off fat reserves when no sea ice is present. Because of their dependence on the sea ice, polar bears are classified as marine mammals.

Imitates

The original Surf Candy flies were tied to imitate sand eels or sand lances, Atlantic silversides or spearing, bay anchovy (often called rainfish) and finger mullet (young mullet).

A sand lance or sandlance is a fish belonging to the family Ammodytidae. Several species of sand lances are commonly known as "sand eels", though they are not related to true eels. Another variant name is launce, and all names of the fish are references to its slender body and pointed snout. The family name means "sand burrower", which describes the sand lance's habit of burrowing into sand to avoid tidal currents.

The Atlantic silverside also known as spearing in the north east of the United States, is a small species of fish from the West Atlantic, ranging from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada to northeastern Florida in USA. It is one of the most common fish in the Chesapeake Bay and in the Barnegat Bay. They are a common subject of scientific research because of their sensitivity to environmental changes.

Anchoa mitchilli is a species of fish in the family Engraulidae, the anchovies. Its common names include bay anchovy and common anchovy. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. It is one of the most common fish species along the coastlines of the western Atlantic.

Materials

The original surf candy flies were tied with white buck tail wings and without eyes. Popovics coated the entire head and body of the fly with epoxy for durability. Early surf candy flies were also tied with polar bear fur for added translucency.^[6] Original versions used a red marker to place a red slash behind to the head to simulate gills. Today's surf candy flies are typically tied with synthetic fibers, Mylar flash for accents and body and some form of eyes. Instead of epoxy, fly tiers use various ultraviolet or blue light cured cements for a faster drying time. Epoxy or UV cured cements are applied to the entire body of the fly from hook eye to hook bend for durability and translucency. Eyes can be added to the head of the fly a more realistic pattern. Most surf candy flies are tied with clear monofilament threads to enhance the effects of translucency.

Variations and sizes

Surf Candy flies are typically tied on size 4 through 4/0 saltwater hooks. By layering different colors, textures and amount of synthetic fibers fly tiers can create a the desired profile of the different baitfish the Surf Candy imitates.

Gallery

Surf Candy variations

Blue backed surf candy

Gold backed surf candy

Notes

↑ Roberts, George V. Jr. (1994). A Fly Fisher's Guide to Saltwater Naturals and Their Imitations. Camden, ME: Ragged Mountain Press. pp. 134–35. ISBN 0070531668.
↑ Veverka, Bob (1999). Innovative Saltwater Flies. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. p. 10. ISBN 0811709027.
↑ Jaroworski, Ed (Winter 2004). "Pop-Fleyes-Matching the Hatch in Saltwater". Fly Tyer. Marion, OH: Morris Communications Company. 10 (4): 50–57.
↑ Jaroworski, Ed; Popovics, Bob (2001). "Designing Pop Fleyes". Pop Fleyes-Bob Popovic's Approach to Saltwater Fly Design. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 1–9. ISBN 0811712478.
↑ Jaroworski, Ed; Popovics, Bob (2001). "Surf Candies". Pop Fleyes-Bob Popovic's Approach to Saltwater Fly Design. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 33–37. ISBN 0811712478.
↑ Rosenbauer, Tom (2011). "Tying the Surf Candy". Midcurrent. Retrieved March 15, 2017.

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[1] Roberts, George V. Jr. (1994). A Fly Fisher's Guide to Saltwater Naturals and Their Imitations. Camden, ME: Ragged Mountain Press. pp. 134–35. ISBN 0070531668.

[2] Veverka, Bob (1999). Innovative Saltwater Flies. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. p. 10. ISBN 0811709027.

[3] Jaroworski, Ed (Winter 2004). "Pop-Fleyes-Matching the Hatch in Saltwater". Fly Tyer. Marion, OH: Morris Communications Company. 10 (4): 50–57.

[designing-4] Jaroworski, Ed; Popovics, Bob (2001). "Designing Pop Fleyes". Pop Fleyes-Bob Popovic's Approach to Saltwater Fly Design. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 1–9. ISBN 0811712478.

[surfcandy-5] Jaroworski, Ed; Popovics, Bob (2001). "Surf Candies". Pop Fleyes-Bob Popovic's Approach to Saltwater Fly Design. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 33–37. ISBN 0811712478.

[6] Rosenbauer, Tom (2011). "Tying the Surf Candy". Midcurrent. Retrieved March 15, 2017.