How to Tie the Half Candy Baitfish Fly: Step-by-Step Guide
With: Coastfly
If you're looking to tie a realistic baitfish pattern, the Half Candy Baitfish Fly is a great choice—perfect for peacock bass, trout, and other predator fish. This fly combines sculpting flash fiber and mallard feathers for a sleek, lifelike presentation.
Materials:
SA 280 Minnow Hook
White Sculpting Flash Fiber (Rainbow Color Optional)
Seno's Laser Dub (White)
Mallard Feather
Lateral Scale Material
UV Resin
Pro Sportfisher Flexi Eyes
Thread (White)
Whip Finish Tool
Dubbing Needle
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Prepare the Hook
Start with a SA 280 Minnow Hook in your vise. This hook has a short shank, perfect for creating a compact and lightweight baitfish fly.
Tie in the Tail
Take a small bundle of white sculpting flash fiber and measure it to be about twice the length of the hook. Tie it in on top of the hook, ensuring the fibers are evenly spread out for a natural-looking tail. Trim any excess.
Build the Body
Use Seno's Laser Dub in white to create a soft dubbing for the body. Wrap a small bundle of dubbing around the hook to build some bulk, focusing on the area beneath the flash fibers. Repeat this process until you achieve a smooth, teardrop-shaped body. Trim excess dubbing if necessary.
Tie in the Mallard Feather
Prepare a mallard feather by trimming the fluff and opening it up. Tie it in on top of the fly so it sits on the top half of the hook. Add another bundle of sculpting flash fiber to the bottom half of the hook to balance the feather placement.
Shape the Head
To form the head, carefully trim the front portion of the fly. Apply a small amount of UV resin to shape and harden the head, ensuring everything stays in place. This adds stiffness to the fly’s front end, reducing tangling.
Add Lateral Scales
For added realism, tie in lateral scale material on each side of the fly. These scales should be about half the length of the body and positioned along the sides to mimic natural fish scales.
Attach the Eyes
Place a drop of UV resin on each side of the fly and attach your flexi eyes. Position them to align with the middle of the body for a lifelike look. Cure the resin once the eyes are securely in place.
Finish the Fly
After final trimming and adjustments to the body shape, apply another layer of UV resin over the entire fly, including the eyes. Cure it under the light, making sure the fly is well-formed and durable.
Final Touches
Perform a final whip finish and clean up any stray fibers or resin. This fly is now ready to fish!
