Fly Of The Month

Jun 2002

Limelight EZ Sparkle Sand Eel
by Jaiem Fleischmann

Materials
Hook: Mustad 34007 or equivalent, size 1/0
Tail: Bucktail, white, chartreuse
Flash: Silver Flashabou (or equivalent), Chartreuse Krystal Flash
Body: EZ Shape Sparkle Body, Pearl, Chartreuse, Pure Red, Pure Yellow, Pure Black
Thread: White

Directions:

1. Place hook in vise and attached thread near bend of hook.
2. Tie in a spare amount of white bucktail under the hook. Allow the bucktail tips to extend approx. 1 inch past bend of hook. Do not trim the bucktail! Wrap the thread around the bucktail hairs going down the length of the hook shank to just behind the hook eye. Then trim any excess past the hook eye.
3. On top of the hook tie in 2-4 strands of silver Flashabou (or equivalent) over the white bucktail fly tail, approximately the same length as the hairs extending back over the hook bend (approx 1").
4. Over the flash, tie a spares amount of chartreuse bucktail the same length (approx. 1 inch) as the white bucktail. As with the white bucktail do not trim the bucktail! Wrap the thread around the bucktail hairs going down the length of the hook shank to just behind the hook eye. Then trim any excess past the hook eye.
5. Tie 4-6 strands of chartreuse Krystal Flash on top of the chartreuse bucktail extending approx. 1 inch behind the fly (same length as the bucktail).
6. Wrap had tightly around the entire body of the fly (hook shank) and secure behind the hook eye via whip finish.
7. Place a thin coat of Pure Red EZ Sparkle on the wraps under the fly just behind the hook eye to form the throat gill effect.
8. Coat the body of the fly with Pearl EZ Sparkle.
9. Add a strip of Chartreuse EZ Sparkle along the top of the fly from the hook eye back to the bucktail as topping.
10. Add Pure Yellow EZ Sparkle eyes to both sides of the fly just behind the hook eye and use Pure Black EZ Sparkle for the pupil.
11. Set aside to dry completely.
12. Done!

Background

EZ Shape Sparkle Body is a great material for adding color and sparkle accent to just about any pattern. And as this pattern shows it can also be used to form the body of a fly. The material holds up well to fish, even toothy ones like bluefish. This particular pattern I like as a spring and summer sand eel fly, especially around the creeks and bays. It can be fished day or night, fast or slow.

You can also use a longer shank hook such as a Mustad 34011 to create a large body. Other color combinations that have done well for me are Crayfish Olive/Pearl, Gold/Pearl, Sand/Pearl, Black/Red and Black/Purple.