In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Mike from LIFliesMike ties a fantastic sand eel or small baitfish pattern for Striped Bass, the Eelie.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Easy
Saltwater season in New England is closing in and I personally could not be more excited. The east coast of the United States may not offer productive steelhead or salmon fisheries, but it does have incredible runs of other diverse species. The Striped Bass is the most popular of these migratory fish that many anglers are addicted to but others include the Bluefish and False Albacore. Although they can be caught in nearly any style, eels are Striped Bass’s guilty pleasure and the Eelie is the perfect imitation to fool overzealous fish this Spring.
Tying saltwater baitfish patterns can often be easier for novice tyers to master due to their size and materials used. These flies can range from sizes 8 to 8/0, depending on the water being fished and conditions present. Profile is regarded as the key for the salt and natural materials seem to always offer some of the most accurate and successful imitations. The Eelie is built with both natural and synthetics and will be attainable by even a first timer with the right patience.
Fishing this fly in areas bass are actively feeding on schools of juvenile baitfish or sand eels will bring you productivity. Whether chasing them in a boat or blind casting from shore, this pattern’s profile and movement in the water will fool fish. For tackle, an 8 weight setup with floating or intermediate line will likely suit you best while chasing Striped Bass inshore. If you decide to start throwing larger flies, bringing an additional 9-10 weight is smart to cover all your bases. What better way to celebrate longer nights and warmer days this Spring than using the Eelie to trick Striped Bass at the beach!
Ingredients:
- Hook: Mustad Big Game c70sap – Size 1
- Eyes: Jungle Cock
- Thread: Danville 210 denier flat wax nylon
- Tail: Bucktail – White
- Flash: Flashabou
- Body: Body braid
- Hackle: Flatwing hackle or thing hackle – White, Yellow, and Olive
Now you know how to tie the Eelie!
Video and ingredients courtesy of LIFliesMike.
