Raise your hand if this has ever happened to you: striped bass are crashing on a school of sand eels or silversides. The bait is thick and the action looks promising. You tie on your best imitation and yet you cannot buy a hit. What's going on?
If this has happened to you it might mean your fly was TOO good at "matching the hatch". Your fly likely got lost in the chaos and never got a glance from a fish. The solution: tie on a fly with the same size and profile as the bait, but in bright colors that are sure to catch the fishes attention, such as a Lemon Lime Big Eelie.
I like this fly as a solution to the aforementioned conundrum and as an attractor pattern during the spring run. It also does a good job of coaxing fish out of stained water.
Recipe
Hook: Mustad 3407, size 2 - 2/0
Thread: White
Tail: Sparse clump of what bucktail, then two strands of peal flashabou, then one yellow saddle (I used cream), then two strands of light green flashabou, then one yellow saddle (again, I used cream).
Body: Silver Mylar braid
Collar: 3-4 turns of lime green marabou
Tying Tips
This fly may not sport "natural" colors, but it should have a natural profile and length. Tie this fly sparse and slim, and tie it in various sizes to allow you to "match the hatch".