"Guitar" Minnow

[John Wade]

Can't find info on one in cyberspace. What is it? Sounds like a local name for an old simple fly like a Glass Minnow or something.

[kennebunkangler]

I know the guitar minow from my time spent at the Eldrege bros. fly shop in Cape Neddick, Maine. Its a half and half variation. I tie them with:

eyes:
bar bell

Body:
2 white saddles 4" long
body braid

Belly: white bucktail

Wing:
bucktail, seafoam
bucktail, light olive
peacock hurll.

[msiler]

Kennebunkangler is correct. Jim B. at Eldredge Bros. came up with this version of the half n half. Deadly as it is beautiful...the description above is correct but has a few tweeks missing that seem to make it "different" than most other similar ties.

John - I have a few if you want to see some. I also have that CD on my desk as i ran out of here last week and forgot to mail it to you. Sorry 'bout that. My sister had her 1st baby so i just dropped everything mid stride and ran down to NY...

Drop me a line,
Matt
msiler_99-at-yahoo.com

[skyomish]

Can you post a picture so we can see the "tweeks"?

[John Wade]

Photo would be cool. Hey Matt thanks, don't sweat it, sounds like you had some great fun! It sounds to me like a half n half that leans more toward deciever than clouser, eh?

[msiler]

Digital Camera is not working but basically (in addition to the description above) Jim keeps the profile fairly slim, uses gold krystal flash (sparse) and ties in red "gills" on the bottom using (I think) red wool. The gills are two small tufts on either side of the hook shank bottom instead of the usual one tuft at the base

[kennebunkangler]

My mistake. I forgot the two feature that make this fly unique. Red Rabbit is use on the throat, and krystal flas is used to create a lateral line.

[maineguideman]

The Guitar minnow is a killer fly its not really a Half & half Its a clouser thats tied long and sparse. The half & half is usually tied with Hackles and Big lead eyes. Ill bet if you called eldredge Bros 207 363 9269 and asked for jeff, jim, tom or Wayne they could put a picture on there website. While your at it get the recipe for the Grocery Pollock Jim B. the shop manager got close to 10 fish over 40 inches on that Pattern.

[msiler]

Will - you are so totally correct!
Just looked in my box and noticed the original has no hackles!
Almost all my imitations have hackles though...must a been a personal thing or maybe i liked the look of the hackles or who the heck knowswhat i was thinking!

Get the new boat yet?

I got a slip up at Great Bay Marine and definately want to ask your expertise on fishing the upper river as i only know the lower part fairly well.

Speak to you soon,
Matt
msiler_99-at-yahoo.com
(use the @ sign in the right spot - trying to reduce the spam i get)

[maineguideman]

I guess you could put hackles in them? The ones I stole from Jeffs flybox when he wasnt looking were tied with really long bucktail very sparse top n bottom. The guys at Eldredge Bros are some of the best Tiers I have ever seen and for a small shop they have alot of materials.

I dont fish the upper river very much after may. I know some bait guys who fish the Oil tanker docks and the the pier just down from there where the long liners tie up. They pitch live Macks or whole herring under the ships with heavy tackle then drift along untill one hooks up then they use the boat to get the fish out from nder the Pier. I saw some massive fish pulled out of there on a flood tied just starting to go out.