Tabert's Gray Ghost

[trent]

Hey Dustin:

are you going to post that killer muskrat bluegill fly?

I think we need a detailed tutorial or just feel free to do a video and post it.

T-

[reelteacher]

Materials...
Size 12 mustad nymph hook, or equivilant.
140 denier Red or Orange thread.
Gray underfur of an Indiana Muskrat.

Directions:
start your thread at the eye of the hook and lay down a base of thread on the hook shank back to the hook bend.







Snip off a piece of fur, and pluck out the longer hairs with brown tips. I just don't feel these longer tips add much action to the fly, in fact, it has been my experience that they take away from the appeal of the fly. Measure the fur to about half the hook shank for the tail and capture the remaining underfur with thread. Make a couple of tight thread wraps, keeping the fur on top of the hook shank. This will form the tail of the fly.




Clip off another small clump of fur and again remove the long guard hairs. This time, use dubbing wax to make the thread tacky, in a pinch saliva works just fine also.





Apply the fur to the thread evenly from the hook shank down toward the end of the bobbin.



With your fingers twist the fur around the thread to form a rope of fur around the thread.




Wind around the hook shank toward the eye. Repeat until you form a nice gray fur body all the way up the hook shank to the eye. Whip finish and presto! It doesn't get much easier than that, and I've caught bluegill, crappie, bass, carp and trout on this fly. There's something about the muskrat fur that really appeals to fish. Personally, I think there's an odor or smell in the fur or something that triggers fish to eat it. I've tried this fly in all sizes, but the size 12 seems to be the best. But please experiment! And be sure to tell me and others how it's working for you.



This fly turned out a little bushy, as I wanted to show exactly what I was doing. You can use as little or as much muskrat as you prefer.



Here is a more sparsely tied ghost. I tied 5 this morning and each one turned out a little different. I believe that's what makes this such a great fly.
Just remember to have fun!

[flyfishingpastor]

Dustin;

Thank you! I really find these step-by-step instructions with pictures an excellent teaching tool.

Pat

[trent]

Dustin,

you may have actually created a foolproof fly. I'm sure it could be done, but I think it would be fairly difficult to mess this one up.

T-

[trent]

Dustin,

I just tied up a half dozen of these. It was a fun little fly to tie. Since you aren't switching materials, you can rattle them off pretty quickly. Looking forward to that first tug on the other end of one.

I'll probably try another half dozen in 14.

T-

[Tippecanoe Fly Fishers Admin]

I agree these are pretty easy to tie. Unless you start reading the panfish bugger and this at the same time. Needless to say I have some crossovers that have componets of both.

[reelteacher]

Great Idea Les! Nothing wrong with just settling with the status quo. Use different materials and mix and match. That's what is so great about tying your own. Make them how you want them! But if it does well, you must share the recipe...

[krebsie]

Dustin
I modified your Gray Ghost a bit. I put a collar of Starling on it and some large, black bead chain eyes.

Can't wait to get this thing in the water!
Krebsie

[reelteacher]

THAT IS SWEET! I'm gonna do that! Thanks for the picture!

[krebsie]

I did one just like this without the bead eyes and it looks pretty effective to.
I'm gona do one with lead eyes next. 3 depths same pattern gotta like that.
Krebsie

[trent]

Gary:

when you tie with "bead chain", do you use bead chain designed for fly tying or just hardware lamp pull kind of stuff?

T-

[rstaight]

Trent,

When I tie my Panfish Charlies I use lamp pull chain. The only problem is about the only color you can find is gold.

If you black, go to the fly shop.

[krebsie]

Trent
I found some black bead chain in the key section at Ace Hardware a few months ago. They also had some blue and red funky stuff. I don't know if they still have it but it's worth a look. Bead chain is bead chain, only thing different is the packaging. Cut the beads apart with a sharp pair of side cuts so as not to smash the link between the beads. If you use cheep cutters they will smash the chain and the remainder will not fall into the bead. This little tag will cut your thread just like a piece of razor sticking out. Sometimes I'll even file the little #@%^ thing off and tap it into the bead before I tie it to the hook.
Krebsie

[trent]

For some reason, I thought I read somewhere that the hardware store stuff will rust, but the fly shop stuff is coated or something.

I'll check out Ace the next time I'm close.

Could you be more specific when you refer to side cuts? I'm not exactly Bob Villa, so want to make sure I'm using the correct thing.

[krebsie]

Trent
With all that swamp mouse fur, starling and black bead chain I would expect to see some kind of critter pic on this sight? You slackin or just get to involved in the deer hair?
Krebsie