Sandeels - what colour are they? (Here's some Sili Skin versions)

[daijones]

Steve, Like your sandeel patterns, both will work for sure but like the top one best. more near to natural color, what sili skin did you use.

The 2nd lot of photos photos showing the real sandeels, the dark color ones are wet. were the light color one is dry making it lighter in color,

I used tanks to keep my sandeels in the summer, and when some die and i take them out of the tanks they tend to be that dark when wet and go light when starting to dry out.

Dave, like that sandeel you have done, very good thinking will do a few of those myself for the coming season.

Dai.

[stevekale]

Cheers Dai.

I used MoP Sili Skin. The colour of the DNA Holofusion comes through. I also brushed the top with a light olive permanent marker.

All of mine are unweighted and intended for use on a Type 3 sinking line.

[John Gray]

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[daijones]

Originally Posted by stevekale

Cheers Dai.

I used MoP Sili Skin. The colour of the DNA Holofusion comes through. I also brushed the top with a light olive permanent marker.

All of mine are unweighted and intended for use on a Type 3 sinking line.

Cheers Steve, been looking for so Sili Skin, to tie up some shrimp flies.

As i said in my last post, do like the top one that you did.

Dai.

---------- Post added at 10:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 AM ----------

Originally Posted by John Gray

Sandeels can vary considerably in length (I believe there are several species, e.g greater and lesser sandeel) I have caught sea trout in the sea (Gruinard Bay) which had been feeding on fairly small sandeels of approximately two to three inches in length, similar to those in this picture ...




In the sand in the same locality, I have caught what I assume were greater sandeels which were up to about eight inches long.

John, You are right, there are a number of sandeels, of the Gower were i live. have had them to over a foot long the greater lance on mackerel feathers, and you would not be leave how small a bass you can catch on one of those. using one on an outing had a bass half the size, fish just love them as a food.

here is a link for you guys to read.

Wapedia - Wiki: Sand lance

Dai.

[otter]

Hi

I fished them many years ago on the moy estuary. Backs were same colour as the sand, bellys white with a silver tinge . We found the most sucessful ones for the sea trout being the smaller ones in the 2 to 2 1/2" range.

[stevekale]

Really good stuff guys. Good to see some discussion re saltwater flies. I was an advocate of a dedicated saltwater tying section but let's start with getting more salty flies on here.

Dai, Sili Skin is interesting stuff. It should have been called Stupid Skin. It can be frustrating, especially if you attempt to follow the instructions that come with it. Better to ignore them. It was Polite that got me digging back into my pile of the stuff.

Here's a little play with a different colour. A Silly Mackeral:

[daijones]

Originally Posted by stevekale

Really good stuff guys. Good to see some discussion re saltwater flies. I was an advocate of a dedicated saltwater tying section but let's start with getting more salty flies on here.

Dai, Sili Skin is interesting stuff. It should have been called Stupid Skin. It can be frustrating, especially if you attempt to follow the instructions that come with it. Better to ignore them. It was Polite that got me digging back into my pile of the stuff.

Here's a little play with a different colour. A Silly Mackeral:

Steve, Like this last pattern, love the colors.

Know what you are saying about the stuff, not used it a lot.

But just did a fly tie on the SOL forum, were Admin sends out a set of materials all the same to 15 tiers. and you have to come up with a pattern and send it back , and the guy who ties the best fly with the materials wins the 15 flies. and there was sili-skin in that and as you say can be a pig to use,

But have to say do like it must get some, and tie some flies up with it for the bass this season.

But have to say Steve, the patterns you have tied using it look very good.

Dai.

[stevekale]

Let me know if you want any tips handling the stuff. Once you get a couple of things straight it's a lot easier.

[peterl]

Going to get some of that, really like the look of those sandeels, anyone tried them for salmon?
peter

[stevekale]

BTW the Sili Skin used for the "mackeral" is a colour called 'roadslick'.

Wapsi have a competitive product set involving a single clear 'Gummi Body' and used in conjunction with different colours of 'Gummi Flash Foil'. I've not used it. Lakeland carry this although they're out of the Body and only have some of the Foil colours at the moment.

This picture kind of shows what can go wrong with this stuff:



If one side is in any way stretched versus the other side when the two are vulcanised together you will get a curled body destined for the trash.