The Golden Angel

By Page Rogers

The Golden Angel is a fly developed by Greg Nault of Hunters Angling Supplies in New Boston, New Hampshire. Greg is a fly tier and shore guide who regularly makes trips to the waters of Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds. This fly was developed after Greg landed an Atlantic Bonito near Waquoit, and the fish regurgitated a mouthful of index finger sized bay anchovies. The anchovies were so freshly eaten that the maw of the bonito was stuffed with them and the bait still shimmered with all of its natural color: a golden-olive dorsal color, a blue-pearl-silver along their sides, and a pearl belly. Since its initial test, Greg and his friends have taken many bonito and false albacore on the Golden Angel, as have I. Greg uses the Gamakatsu Octopus hook because of its reliable tuna-hooking capabilities (Trey Combs); it is also wonderfully light in weight and very strong. Other strong, light hooks, which may be substituted, include the Gamakatsu SC15, Daiichi 2546, Mustad 7766 or 77660SS, Eagle Claw 245N or SS. When cut, the balsa Stim-U-Dent body not only helps the tier create a uniform little belly shape, it provides a neutral buoyancy that helps the fly suspend near the surface, just like the natural bait.

The fly also imitates the American Silversides, which can be golden-tannish in color. The coloration of this baitfish varies widely from region to region; the lighter the color of the sand, vegetation and bottom, the more likely you are to see silversides that are golden-tan, rather than gray-olive in color.

The Golden Angel has proven itself on saltwater gamefish such as bonito, false albacore, striped bass, bluefish, mackerel and pollock. It can be tied in a variety of sizes and colors to match the anchovies and silversides in your area. The materials to make the fly are readily available: Angel Hair is distributed by Umpqua Feather Merchants, Bill’s Bodi-Braid by Spirit River. The Gamakatsu Octopus is available from Hunters. Also, the fly is commercially available from Hunters Angling Supplies (1-800-331-8558).

Materials List
Thread:	6/0 White Uni-Thread
Hook:	Gamakatsu Octopus #2/0, or other substitutes mentioned above
Tail:	Small clump of Shrimp colored "Kinky Fibre" (you may substitute tan Mystic Bay Fly Fur, or shrimp Polar Fibre), topped with 6-12 strands of Silver Flashabou, topped with small clump of shrimp Kinky Fibre.
Body:	small piece of Johnson & Johnson "Stim-U-Dent" (balsa plaque remover) cut to body shape, wrapped with Pearl Bill’s Bodi-Braid or Pearl "Kreinik"(1/8") ribbon
Wing:	Pearl-Blue Angel Hair (2x length of hook shank), topped with Silver Flashabou, topped with Gold-Holographic Angel Hair.
Eyes:	Silver 3/16" Witchcraft Molded Epoxy eyes
Head:	Epoxy over eyes and head and along underside of belly.

Step One

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Remove a stick of the Stim-U-Dent balsa plaque remover and cut a piece, which fits shank of the hook you are using. Measure it so that the "thick" side of the Stim-U-Dent will be tied in resting against the hook shank. Cut the balsa wood so that it slopes on each end. Tie in the 6/0 thread, cover the hook shank with thread, then a light coat of head cement. Next, tie the balsa body to the underside of the hook shank. Completely cover the balsa body with thread.

Step Two

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Tie in your tail materials, beginning with the Shrimp Kinky Fibre, then the Silver Flashabou, then more shrimp Kinky Fibre. Tail materials may extend all the way to the hook eye. Tail should be 2 ˝ times length of hook shank. Bring thread back to place in between the barb and the hook point and tie in Pearl Bill’s Bodi-Braid. Wrap thread forward to the hook eye. Wrap Bill's Bodi-Braid over balsa belly and whip finish.

Step Three

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Now build the wing. First tie in the Pearl Blue Angel Hair. This is the material that makes the fly "come alive," so make sure it’s visible. Top with "short" Silver Flashabou (1 ˝ x the hook shank). Then top with Gold-Holographic Angel Hair. Tie in the Gold Angel Hair in three stages. The first bunch is the longest, extending the length of the Shrimp Kinky Fibre; the last bunch is the shortest. Whip finish the thread and tie off.

Step Four

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Place molded epoxy eye so that it dissects the line where the Bodi-Braid ends and the thread wraps begin. If you wish to put gills on, they could be painted on at this step, paint them directly behind the eyes, on the Bodi-Braid, using a Testors Gloss Red Paint Pen. Coat the entire head, eyes and the underside of the fly belly with your choice of epoxy. Go light with the epoxy on the belly or you’ll make the fly too heavy.

Finished Pattern

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