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Body Stretch Shrimp
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It is widely regarded that the common freshwater shrimp is a main stay food item of trout and grayling at various times of the year. Due to their prolific numbers and wide dispersion throughout the UK and overseas a shrimp pattern must be included in your fly box. This pattern is one of the best, catching for me all over the world. As shrimp and hog louse are similar in size and shape the pattern is suitable when the fish are feeding on either of these. Both of these feed on debris near or on the bottom, hence the inclusion of a lead under body. Vary the thickness of this to get the best combination of ease of casting whilst keeping the fly as near to the bottom as possible. On still waters the best way to fish the fly is a slow retrieve, similar to buzzer fishing. With river work Czech nymphing or under a site indicator (a large dry fly can be used for this) is the preferred method. Fly Tying Method
Tying Procedure
2. Bed the hook with plenty of thread to obtain a smooth under body finish. Rotate the hook in the vice to gain access around the bend of the hook
3. Tie in a length of body stretch and fine silver wire at the rear of the hook.
4. Create a dubbing loop at the rear of the hook and lock into place. (the thread wraps in the picture have been continued up the shank of the hook for ease of viewing.
5. Wax and dub the thread with seals fur. I personally prefer traditional Irish dubbing to the colour range and texture. Select a colour to suit the local population of shrimp.
6. Rotate the hook in the vice to get access to the main body of the hook. Continue to dub the hook up to just before the eye.
7. Using a dubbing brush fluff up the body
8. Strip the fibres from the partridge hackles, wax the dubbing loop, place the partridge fibres in the loop and spin. For this I use Marc Petijon tools as these makes the insertion of the fibres easier. Wind the spun dubbing loop (which now looks like a hackle brush) up the body in open and equal turns. Tie off and trim.
9. Using your fingers stroke the partridge fibres in a downward movement until all the fibres point towards the hook point.
10. Pull the body stretch over the back of the fly ensuring that it is central. Keep the body stretch taught, tie in securely and trim excess.
11. Rib the fly with the silver wire in open and equidistant turns. Here take your time to not trap any of the partridge legs by the wire. I find using a dubbing needle to move the legs whilst ribbing invaluable for this. Tie in and trim excess. Construct a neat head, whip finish and varnish. The fly is now complete.
Tight lines and good luck ! Steve |
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