Jimmy Eagleton is the sand shark king. His flies have evolved over years and years, however the first fly he gave me years ago has been my go-to fly for a long time. It doesn’t really have a name from its owner, but its aggressive and grizzly and furry, so Raccoon it shall be.
Jimmys presentation is everything, but its very technical and I have a developed a different method that has the same result. You need to lead the fish so that he’ll pass over it, obviously you want the sweet spot under his eyes. Get the fly in the path and as he approaches hold your rod and stripping hand straight out in front of you, and walk back slowly. You’ll feel it tighten if he’s on it, when he is and he shuffles around to eat you’ll feel it find the corner on his mouth. Tighten further and get ready for the run!
Don’t strike, don’t strip, you’ll just foul. Sand sharks don’t “see” flies, they feel them. So the bright and dark colours are for you to pick it up on the bottom. Contrast is king.
link back: http://feathersandfluoro.com/2012/11/09/saving-the-sand-sharks-reputation/
