The Rubber Candy is a variation on a very popular fly, the Surf Candy. Both were invented by Bob Popovics, a local fly tyer and innovator. I like Bob's flies. They are very realistic, durable and fairly easy to tie. You can use this pattern to imitate Spearing, or if you cut the profile down it will have other Sand Eels making eyes at it. It sinks a little slower than the Surf Candy and it's softer body will keep a fish from rejecting it as fast as a harder one. The major difference in tying this one, is that you want to keep the tail tied in at the bend. This way the Silicone body can't be ripped by a fish who grabs the fly but misses the hook.

• Hook: Mustad 34007 or equivalent
• Tail: White or Smoke Ultra Hair, Thin Silver Tinsel
• Body: Pearl Cactus Chenille (Estaz), Clear Silicone
• Topping: Blue Angel Hair, or any color darker then the tail color. Ultra Hair also works well here.
• Eyes: Stick-On Prismatic eyes
• Photo-Flo (see note after tying instructions)

1. Place the hook in the vise and attach the tying thread.
2. Just forward of the bend, tie in a medium clump of the lighter Ultra Hair.
3. Top it with about 20 strands of the thin Silver Tinsel (Flash-a-Boo). Leave the Tinsel about an inch longer than the Ultra Hair. This will give the fly more action as well as flash to attract the fish.
4. Tie in the Cactus Chenille just in front of the tail and wrap in all the way to the hook eye.
5. Trim the Cactus Chenille as close to the shank as possible, and make sure you get all the strands. This will serve as a base for the Silicone to adhere to, and because we chose to use pearl, it will give a nice iridescence to the body.
6. Tie in the darker Ultra Hair or Angel Hair right behind the hook eye, and allow it to come to the end of the tinsel.
7. Whip Finish and apply your favorite head cement.
8. Put some silicone on you finger and cover all the Cactus Chenille with a good layer. Not to thick, not too thin. Once you've done it a few times you'll see what you want to do. The earlier ones will still catch fish.
9. Set the eyes in the wet Silicone, and put a little more Silicone over each of the eyes. Use a nice sized dollop for this because it will have to cover the rest of the body too.
10. Wet your finger tip in the Photo-Flo and tap in Silicone into place. It will smooth out nicely, but it will want to push under the gap. Use a plastic knife dipped in the Photo-Flo to move it back into place. Keep going until you get a nice, smooth, tapered body.
11. When the Silicone sets, go back and clear the hook eye of all the Silicone your were very careful not to get into it.