Martyn White | Thursday, 13 August 2026
Another two minute read from me this week as I'm still on holiday, I thought I might as well continue with the mullet flies this week, so I decided to give you another of Colin Macleod's patterns: The Ghostbuster.Another one minute read from me this week as I'm still on holiday, I thought I might as well continue with the mullet flies this week, so I decided to give you another of Colin Macleod's patterns: The Ghostbuster.
It's a pretty handy shrimp or isopod imitation, not just because it catches fish, but because it's also a presentation tool. The foam "carapace" is not really enough to float the fly, but it is enough to slow its -and your second fly's- sink quite dramatically. This is something I've found very useful because of the places I typically get to target them in Japan.
Here's the pattern
Hook: Fulling Mill super grub size 12
Thread: Brown
Tail: Partridge
Body: Peacock or dark brown spectra dubbing
Carapace: Dark brown 2mm foam
Rib: White thread & UV crystal flash twisted together
Antennae: Boar bristle-I usually sub 5lb maxima chameleon
It's an easy enough tie, but do secure the foam at the rear with some thread rather than just relying on the rib. Also tie the antennae in before you do the body so they're nice and secure. The boar bristles are good, but I like the look of the brown nylon once it's been curled the scissors. Colin's book on mullet fly fishing is available at Coch Y Bonddu Books if you want to read more on the fly and fishing for mullet. Cheers.