The Flying C, love it or loath it?
The Flying Condom also known as the Flying C has proved to be a very successful lure over the years, accounting for the capture of many salmon. It's use among salmon anglers seems to divide opinion. Many anglers who spin for salmon feel that the lure should be banned as often the fish can be hooked quite deeply and so cannot always be returned. This is not usually the case when fishing with other lures such as devon minnows, spoons and Rapalas. Some anglers find the whole process of fishing with a Flying C quite monotonous as the lure constantly needs to be retrieved at a steady pace after casting. Many anglers prefer to use a devon minnows or spoon, allowing the lure to swing around in the current, which is much more akin to fly fishing. This can also be a more relaxing way to fish when spinning. Regardless of which side of the fence you reside, there is no denying that the Flying C is a very effective lure.
The Flying C, seems to divide opinion among anglers
It has been said that the name “flying” comes from the fact the lure is very aerodynamic in it's design and so flies through the air when cast. The C part in the name as most anglers know stands for condom and this is because the body of the lure is sheathed in plastic. The lure itself is of a very simple construction. It is composed of a weighted body, which is covered in plastic. The plastic is long enough that it forms a two-pronged tail at the back of the lure. The treble hook is attached to the body. At the head of the lure, there is a metal blade that flutters when the lure is moving through the water. The blade is usually copper or silver in colour. Due to it’s simple construction the Flying C is a relatively cheap lure to buy, especially when you compare it to the cost of Rapala's or Vision 110s.
The Flying C is realatively cheap compared to other lures
Flying C’s come in many weird and wonderful colours. The black Flying C seems to be one of the most popular colours. Each angler has their favourite. In recent years, two toned Flying C’s have come on to the market. These consist of the body of the lure being one colour and then the two-pronged tail section being another. I am not sure how significant the colour of the lure is. I feel that it is not so much the colour that is important but more the profile and action of the lure itself.
The black Flying C is a popular colour
In addition to the different colours, Flying C’s also come in different weights. They usually range from twelve to forty grams. Obviously the weight of the lure you select will depend on the current and depth of the pool in which you are fishing. The Flying C is a versatile lure and relatively easy to use for a beginner. It can be very productive when the water temperature rises and the fish become more inclined to chasing a lure. That said, I have seen springers caught on Flying C’s as early as February. It is an excellent lure for catching running as well as resident fish and can be used in a number of ways.
The subtle differences between a Flying C and a Siver bullet (right)
In recent times, there have been a number of variations on the Flying C developed. Probably the most popular of these variations is the Silver Bullet. It is very similar to a Flying C, but instead of the body being encased by rubber it has a metallic silver or gold body. It also has a blade at the front of the lure and a similar two-pronged rubber tail, like the standard Flying C. The lure itself is fished in a similar way to the Flying C.
The standard way to the fish the Flying C is to cast the lure at a slightly downstream angle to maybe seventy degrees and then perform a slowly steady retrieve. You would then take a couple of steps down the pool and repeat the process, eventually covering the entire pool. If you wanted your lure to fish a bit deeper, you could either use a heavier Flying C or just simply change the angle of your cast to slightly more upstream, maybe at ninety degrees. This will give the lure a bit more time to sink before it swings around in the current. The speed of retrieve can also have an influence on how deep the lure fishes in the water column. With a faster retrieve, the lure will fish closer to the surface. This is exactly the opposite to when using a lure with a vein on the front of it like a Rapala or a Vision110. These lures dive deeper when you retrieve it faster. When the water is colder, the fish are less inclined to chase a lure and so it is best to try and fish your Flying C as slowly and deeply as possible.
The Flying C can be effective in the summer months
As already mentioned, the Flying C can be fished in different ways and this may depend on the time of year and the water temperature. In the summer, when the water is warmer the Flying C can prove to be very productive especially for grilse and summer salmon. In these conditions, it can be worth casting the lure at different angles as well as varying the speed of your retrieve. An upstream cast can prove particularly effective especially when the lure is retrieved quickly. The fish often only get a glimpse of the lure flashing past them and only have a split second to decide whether to take the lure. It is not uncommon for the fish to follow the lure across the pool and then subsequently take it. Anglers regularly see a salmon following their Flying C into the bank before turning away at the last moment. This can prove to be exciting as well as frustrating in equal measure. When you are fishing with the Flying C and upstream casting, it is always worthwhile remembering to set the drag on your reel a little lighter than normal, as the takes can be extremely savage in nature.
Set your drag slightly lighter on an upstream cast
A good way to fish the Flying C in the summer, when the water is warmer and the fish are more active is to start at the tail of the pool and make three casts in three different directions. The first cast can be made upstream and parallel to your own bank at around nine O clock. You would retrieve the lure at a brisk pace as your cast is directly upstream and a slow retrieve could result in the lure getting snagged. The next cast can be made at around eleven O clock. Again this is an upstream cast but the retrieve can be a bit slower. The final cast can be made directly towards the far bank at ninety degrees. The retrieve on this cast can be much slower and so the lure will fish that bit deeper. After making these three casts you take a couple of steps upstream and repeat the process again until you have reached the head of the pool. The result of using this three cast method, when fishing the Flying C is that the lure is fishing at a different angle, speed and depth on every cast. So you are effectively offering the fish a different proposition each time. This method can often be more effective than casting the Flying C repeatedly at a slightly downstream angle and retrieving it at the same speed. Any resident fish in the pool would have seen the lure swimming through the water in this way a number of times and so the element of surprise is lost.
A nice fish being returned after being hooked on a Flying C
I personally very rarely fish the Flying C these days. This is not because I am against it’s use. I acknowledge the fact that a fish can be deeply hooked on a Flying C but also believe that a fish can be deeply hooked on whatever lure is used including a fly. I choose not to use a Flying C because I get more enjoyment from spinning when using a floating devon and so use this method whenever conditions allow.
The Flying C has been such a divisive lure among salmon anglers over recent years and understandably so, with pressure on salmon stocks and the introduction of catch and release. It is considerably cheaper compared to some of the other lures on the market and also relatively easy to use which has broadened it’s appeal. Love it or loath it, the Flying C is one of the most productive salmon lures on the market today.
The Flying C lures in this article have been kindly made and provided by Scott Connelly