Fly Tying: Ray Bondorew’s Marabou Sand Eel with Martyn White

Small sandeels feature heavily in the diets of many saltwater predators, and while there are a lot of patterns to represent them, there are few that are as quick, easy and effective as this one from Ray's book Stripers & Streamers (available here amzn.to/41cQq15 ) As Ray says "many seem to involve much work to copy such a slender, simple bait. Complex bodies with Mylar tubing, Corsair, and epoxy have evolved."
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Materials list
Hook: Shortish lightish saltwater hook. I used a Gamakatsu S10S the original was an Eagle Claw 254 size 2-1/0
Thread: Light green
Tail: Olive over white marabou with 2 strands of pearl flash
Body: Pearl braid
Back: 2-3 strands of peacock herl
Rib: Tag of tying thread

[@johnharpin8039]

Great looking sandeel pattern with plenty of movement. Added bonus is that it is simple to tie.

[@JohnD.1969]

Excellent video, excellent tie. I love just about all of Ray's patterns. A local legend.

[@user-nh6dz5qi9v]

A great looking pattern. Should work well for coho and sea run cutthroat trout on the coat of BC. 👍👍👍👍

[@FlickingFeathers]

I'm sure it will

[@trevorgreen2370]

Thanks for sharing. Could you put a marabou collar on the front for a bit more "body" like Ken Abrames Bis Eelie? Our bait fish are a bit fatter. Many thanks

[@FlickingFeathers]

You certainly could

[@alfredorusso9263]

Thanks for the sharing! This is going to be for sure in my fly box permanently. How would you see it used in dead drift?

[@FlickingFeathers]

Dead drift in current works great, or swinging if the tide is running in the right direction where you are standing.