I have had a lot of fun experimenting with variations of one of my favorite warm water patterns, the James Wood Bucktail. This latest version, which has an all-white color scheme, I have nicknamed the Ghost. White streamers can be deadly at certain times, and this all-white bucktail is no exception to that rule. The James Wood Bucktail lends itself to endless variations. The original is hard to beat, but I enjoy creating and fishing other color combinations. At this point, I have an entire fly box dedicated to this pattern and its variants. It was a leap of faith for me to tie and fish the original James Wood Bucktail because it is such an unusual pattern. Since taking that jump many years ago, it has become a go-to fly that never lets me down!
Crappies are a big fan of the Ghost version of the James Wood Bucktail
The Ghost
Pattern Recipe:
Hook: 3x or 4x long streamer hook
Thread: White 6/0
Body: White medium chenille
Wing: Sparse white bucktail spread 360 degrees around the hook shank
Head: Double thickness of white chenille