The Fisherman Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 When the bait is sand eels over 4", the Big Eelie is an elegant - and lethal - solution. I used this fly, created by Ken Abrames, and its variants to take many keeper+ sized bass last week on Block Island. It is easy to tie and can be fished many different ways. Normally I fish smaller, really sparse sand eel flies on the Block, but when we went out for out annual Block Island All-Nighter in June, we saw sand eels as big as 4" on the beach. Boat captains were reporting sand eels in sizes normally reserved for late August. From top to bottom, the original Big Eelie, the L&L Big Eelie (patterned after Ken's flatwing streamer the L&L Special), and the Bruiser Big Eelie, my own color creation. This is a slim profile fly; all saddles are thinner than a pencil, and tied in flat. I tied these 4.5" long. Big Eelie Hook: Eagle Claw L253 1/0 (up to 3/0) Thread: White Platform: 30 hairs white BT Pillow: White Tail: White saddle under 4 strands pearl flash under yellow saddle under blue saddle under olive saddle Body: Pearl braid Collar: Two turns white maribou, tied in at the tip L&L Big Eelie Hook: Eagle Claw L253 1/0 (up to 3/0) Thread: Chartreuse Platform: 30 hairs fl. yellow BT Pillow: Chartreuse Tail: White saddle under 2 strands blue flash under 2 chartreuse saddles under 2 strands purple flash under yellow saddle Body: Pearl braid Collar: Two turns chartreuse maribou, tied in at the tip Bruiser Big Eelie Hook: Eagle Claw L253 1/0 (up to 3/0) Thread: Black Platform: 30 hairs blue BT Pillow: Purple Tail: One purple saddle under 2 strands blue flash under another purple saddle under 2 2 strands purple flash under 2 black saddles Body: Dark blue braid Collar: Two turns purple maribou, tied in at the tip I fished these flies at night, and the stripers had no color preference; they hit every variant with equal gusto. This 38" beast took the Bruiser: "We fish for pleasure; I for Mine, you for yours."-- James Leisenring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Shore Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Great flies, love the picture too. Hoping to pull one like it in myself one of these days! I like the marabou at the tip too, that isn't in Abrames original pattern is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytyingguy1 Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 It may be the angle of the picture but the 2nd fly hook looks like it is bent?? & yes the other picture is "Scary" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fisherman Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Hi SS, It is indeed in the original pattern. You're probably thinking of its little brother, the Eelie, which has no collar and only three saddles. I tie that in the 1.5 to 3" range. Also a killer pattern, and likewise gives you plenty of options to change colors as you see fit. :-) "We fish for pleasure; I for Mine, you for yours."-- James Leisenring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fisherman Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Nope, it's not the angle, that hook is very bent. :-) The bottom two flies are "game-used" and have been retired from the rotation. The top one has yet to be fished. "We fish for pleasure; I for Mine, you for yours."-- James Leisenring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytyingguy1 Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Not to many things pass these old eyes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounty Htr Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 What hook? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fisherman Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Rats! I knew I forgot something. These are tied on an Eagle Claw L253 1/0. I will be tying some op on 3/0 hooks this week. "We fish for pleasure; I for Mine, you for yours."-- James Leisenring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otshawytsha Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Thanks for posting the pics of the flies. I think you made the right choice not holding the fish straight-armed out in front of your body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fisherman Posted July 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Right on. Not a big fan of that. "We fish for pleasure; I for Mine, you for yours."-- James Leisenring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. saxatilis Posted July 17, 2009 Report Share Posted July 17, 2009 The proof is in the pudding! Great post, thanks for the full disclosure! Life is too precious to fish ugly flies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingballyhoo Posted July 18, 2009 Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 I know Ken espouses fishing with a floating line. What kind of line did you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fisherman Posted July 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2009 I always bring two lines for Block Island: A floater and a full sink tip. I used these flies with a full sink tip (365 grain, 35 foot head, I think) in a deep channel for wet fly and greased line swings. For beaches, rocky reefs/points, and flats, I used a floating line. Probably used it 80% of the time. The floating line is my default line. "We fish for pleasure; I for Mine, you for yours."-- James Leisenring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fisherman Posted July 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Or should I say, this morning, just after midnight, I was fishing a flat with the original Big Eelie and landed a 39.5" striper. Magnificent fish. :-) "We fish for pleasure; I for Mine, you for yours."-- James Leisenring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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