Shrimp Fly Tutorial

I've been tying this fly, or some variation of it for a few years now ( I still haven't come up with a name for it ).  I usually have a handful of these in my Redfish box in varying colors of Chartreuse, Tan, Olive and Rootbeer.  The main thing to know about this fly is that it works!  It's equally at home being used for schooled up winter Redfish or for summer time tailers.  It consistently gets eaten in sight casting situations. 

I just got back from 3 days at a Sportsman's Expo, where I had time to knock out a few flies in between chatting with visitors.  I snapped some photos along the way so I could post a quick tutorial here on the blog.

I use a 1/0 Gamakatsu SC15 hook for this fly.  I love using the size 1 and 1/0 SC15 hooks for any of my buggy looking redfish patterns.  Cover the shank in thread.

I tie in a generous clump of select craft fur for the horn of the shrimp (should be about 3 times the length of the shank).  You may have to tie in a couple pinches of this material to get the thickness you need.  I tie it in right where the hook shank starts to bend.

I rotate the fly around and tie in some crystal flash.  Four strands, 2 on each side of the hook.  The crystal flash should be about the length of the craft fur and lay on top of the fur.

I choose a pair of mono shrimp eyes and bend the mono about 1/2" back from the eyeball.  (These eyes can be purchased, but I build mine out of 30# mono, clear cure goo and finger nail polish...I'll post a tutorial at some point).

Tie in the eyes at the same spot that the craft fur and crystal flash is tied in.  The eyes should stick up and out at a 45deg angle.

Clip off the excess mono, tie them down tight and secure with a little thread glue.  It's starting to look a little more like a critter now.

Rotate the hook again to invert the fly, and tie in a pair of lead eyes, clouser style.  I've also tied in a 5" strip of Palmering Chenille at the same point where the flash, eyes and craft fur is tied in.

Palmer the palmering chenille back about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way towards the lead eyes.  Make sure you guide the direction of the chenille fibers so that they are pointing forward as they lay down.  Use a wrap or two of thread to hold the chenille in place so it doesn't unwravel.  At this spot, tie down a rubber leg at its midpoint, folding it over and tying both ends forward.  Tie in another rubber leg on the opposite side of the fly.

Continue palmering the chenille around the hook shank until it gets to the lead eyes.  Tie off the end and clip off any excess.

Tie in a weedguard using 30# mono. 

Brush/pick out the materials so that they lay forward nicely.  At this point you can trim down the chenille fibers to give it a streamlined look.  Use a sharpie (I'm a fan of metallic copper) to band the horn of the shrimp.

Here's the little shrimp/crab/critter/bug in it's fighting stance, aka what the redfish sees right before he inhales it.