Spawning Ghost Fly
Spawning Ghost Fly
The Spawning Ghost fly was created by Al Ritt to imitate the variety of egg carrying shrimp species that bonefish feed on.

It’s surprising how many imitations of spawning shrimp have been created! There are literally dozens of flies that are supposed to match shrimp carrying orange egg sacs and a lot of experienced anglers swear that these patterns catch more fish than flies without egg sacs. Why is this?

The fish, of course, are not distinguishing between shrimp – and shrimp imitations – that do have egg sacs and those that do not. One type of shrimp isn’t better than the other. Instead, the brightly coloured egg sac makes the fly stand out in the water and acts as a beacon for feeding fish. The bright orange egg sac acts like a hot spot so the fish can more easily see the fly.

Originally, Al Ritt made the egg sac on this Spawning Ghost pattern using orange McFly Foam, but you can substitute with antron yarn or chenille. If your local fly shop doesn’t stock barred nymph Sili Legs, select another brand of speckled rubber legs.
Notice the veil of antron yarn over the top of the body. This feature gives the fly a slightly transparent appearance similar to a real shrimp. The overall tan colour matches a live shrimp; shrimp turn orange, a common fly-tying colour, only after being cooked.

Tie this fly in a variety of weights by simply substituting beadchain for plastic or dumbbell eyes. I tie this pattern in smaller sizes (8 and 6) for Belizean, Mexican and Honduran bonefish and in larger sizes (4 and 2) for big Bahamian and Cuban bonefish.
A selection of Spawning Ghosts ready for a fly box

Materials
Hook: Tiemco TMC 811S - size 6
Thread: UTC Ultra 140 - tan
Weight: Beadchain, medium – gold
Body Veil: Antron yarn - tan
Tail: UV krystal flash -  tan & Sili Legs, nymph – barred sand
Egg Sac: Chenille, medium – orange
Body: UTC mirage tinsel, large – opal
Legs: Sili legs, nymph – barred sand
Adhesives: Zap-A-Gap Gel & Pieroway’s premium head cement

Tying Instructions
Step 1. Insert the hook in the vise. Attach the thread and wrap back two hook eye lengths.
Step 2. Place a drop of Zap-A-Gap Gel on the thread wraps and then figure eight wrap the beadchain eyes to the top of the hook (This fly rides hook point up).
Step 3. Tie in a small bunch (12 strands) of UV krystal flash, on top of the hook, starting at a point directly behind the eyes and wrapping the thread over the flash to a point at the bend of the hook. Trim the fibers to the width of the hook gap.
Step 4.Tie in four 4 cm long Sili Legs directly on top of the UV krystal flash tail. Trim the ‘legs’ so they extend slightly longer than the tail.
Step 5. Tie in two 4 cm strands of antron yarn, one on either side of the tail. Note: the antron pieces will have a natural curve to them when they come off the spool; tie each piece in so that it curves away from the hook/tail.
Step 6. Tie in a 4 cm long piece of chenille at the bend of the hook.
Step 7. Wrap the chenille around the hook shank to build a ‘ball’ of material and then trim away the excess.
Step 8. Tie in a 6 cm long piece of mirage tinsel on top of the hook directly in front of the chenille ball.
Step 9. Invert the hook (rotate the vise jaws) and palmer the mirage tinsel forward using overlapping wraps to create a smooth body. Figure eight wrap the tinsel around the beadchain, tie off and then trim away the excess.
Step 10. Pull the two pieces of antron yarn forward over the chenille ball creating two arches that rise to a point just below the barb of the hook and then curve downward to the single tie off location in front of the beadchain eyes. Tie off the antron veil and trim away the excess material.
Step 11. Tie down four 6 cm Sili Legs in front of the beadchain eyes, making sure to leave a 2 cm length of each leg extending forward over the hook eye. Spray the legs so that two extend down each side of the hook.
Step 12. Build up a small thread head, whip finish and cover with premium head cement. Trim the legs so that all of the front ‘legs’ extend 1 cm past the hook eye and the rear ‘legs’ extend slightly longer than the krystal flash tail.

Your Spawning Ghost is now complete and you are ready to head out On The Water!

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