The Ghost Eelie sandeel series

[The Fisherman]

A few weeks back, flyrodder was talking about taking his favorite freshwater streamer, the classic Black Ghost, and converting it for striper use. As our trip to Block Island got closer, I thought about trying to to satisfy his request. I knew there would be sand eels out and about. But the traditional pattern calls for a collar and a substantial 4-hackle wing (I like my sand eel flies thin profile and sparse). The answer was found by combining the basic color scheme of the classic with the structure of Ken Abrames ever-reliable Eelie. Thus was born the Black Ghost Eelie. How did it work? Sadly, Bob's copy was liberated by a bluefish. But Farmy Joe hooked and landed a keeper striper on his.

This got me to thinking: what else could I do within the parameters I had set? Here is the result: the Ghost Eelie. All saddles are tied in flat.

http://www.flyaddict.com/gallery/data/519/medium/GhostEelies.JPG

From top to bottom:
Black Ghost Eelie
Hook: Atlantic Salmon #6
Thread: Black
Support: 30 hairs yellow BT
Tail: Thin white saddle under silver flash under two more thin white saddles
Body: Black floss with silver rib

L&L Ghost Eelie
Hook: Atlantic Salmon #6
Thread: Chartreuse
Support: 30 hairs chartreuse BT
Tail: Thin white saddle under gold flash under thin chartruese saddle under blue flash under thin yellow saddle
Body: Bright yellow floss with silver rib

Golden Ghost Eelie
Hook: Atlantic Salmon #6
Thread: Black
Support: 30 hairs white BT
Tail: Thin white saddle under silver flash under thin yellow saddle under blue flash under thin orange saddle
Body: Golden yellow floss with gold rib

White Ghost Eelie
Hook: Atlantic Salmon #6
Thread: White
Support: 30 hairs white BT
Tail: Thin white saddle under silver flash under thin white saddle under gold flash under thin dun saddle
Body: White floss with silver rib

Pink Ghost Eelie
Hook: Atlantic Salmon #6
Thread: Chartreuse
Support: 30 hairs pink BT
Tail: Thin chartreuse saddle under green flash under thin chartreuse saddle under green flash under thin olive saddle
Body: Pink floss with silver rib

Mark Gustavson's Eelie variant
Hook: Mustad 3407 #2
Thread: White
Support: 30 hairs white BT
Tail: Thin chartreuse saddle under purple flash under thin chartreuse saddle
Body: Pearl braid

The Ghosts are 3" long. The Eelie is 2.5".

This will be getting a thorough test drive on the Block this summer.

[Jon]

Ooooohh yes please!

They look great. Keen to see how they wiggle in the water next time we're out.

Jon

[leadwingcoachman]

Beautiful Flies...
I've tied some similar eel patterns last week with flat wings. then yesterday looking at Andrews eel video made me think maybe tying the saddles in more traditonally, on their sides might give them more of a side to side motion than tying them flat wing. Any thoughts.

[bonecrusher]

Those are tremendous flies and look great, do you use the salmon hooks just out of preference or some secret I don't know about.

[Andrew]

Beautiful Flies...
I've tied some similar eel patterns last week with flat wings. then yesterday looking at Andrews eel video made me think maybe tying the saddles in more traditonally, on their sides might give them more of a side to side motion than tying them flat wing. Any thoughts.

My understanding is that, actually, the idea behind flatwing ties is that in fact they allow more side-to-side than when tying them "upright". However, I know from looking closely at a lot of flies recently in the water, both flatwings and traditional deceivers, that with fairly long thin hackles it doesn't matter. Both tie in styles allow a lot of side to side and up and down motion. I think this makes sense, though - I mean, if you look at the feather in your hand, if it's fairly long and thin, it will easily bend in all directions, and this seems even more true when they're wet.


What I'm curious to hear about Steve's flies is whether they're prone to fouling. I tied a few flies last week that looked very similar in their basic structure, using very thin hackles...and mine fouled to the point that I just gave up on them. But, mine didn't have as much bucktail support; maybe that's key?

[Farmy Joe]

The black ghost eelie worked great on the Block!


What I'm curious to hear about Steve's flies is whether they're prone to fouling.

If by "fouling" do you mean to ask if they ever get broken off in the mouths of stripers then your answer is a resounding yes. If your wondering if the feathers wrap around the shank of the hook while casting/retrieving, then I'd have to say not often.

[Andrew]

The black ghost eelie worked great on the Block!



If by "fouling" do you mean to ask if they ever get broken off in the mouths of stripers then your answer is a resounding yes. If your wondering if the feathers wrap around the shank of the hook while casting/retrieving, then I'd have to say not often.

I meant the latter. A fly in the fish's mouth only counts as a foul if it happened by accident!

[Farmy Joe]

I meant the latter. A fly in the fish's mouth only counts as a foul if it happened by accident!
Nonetheless Steve's ghost eelies were well constructed. Even in 25 knot winds they still rarely foul.:)

[The Fisherman]

Just getting back from a lovely weekend with Mrs. Fisherman. :-)

First, thank you for all the compliments. To answer some questions:

I like the Atlantic Salmon hooks because they are strong and sharpen to a great point, but most of all because of the long shank. Sand eels are long and thin, so it seems a logical choice. I also like the black hook. But as you can see I tie the Eelie on a "regular" hook. Both hooks catch fish.

As far as fouling goes, I find the Eelie configuration has little to no fouling. The sparse bucktail sandeels I tie on the AS hooks are very prone to fouling. But, I fish lots of droppers, so I check them almost every cast anyway.

I think tying the saddles in flat is more important with bigger, wider, flies/saddles. These saddles are the tips of already thin feathers.