Bodkin / Patterns

Shrimp Fly

Salmon/Steelhead · Salmon · Steelhead · Advanced · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Salmon double, 4-10
  • Thread Red 8/0

Materials

  • Tail veil Golden pheasant red breast feather, wound (flowing)
  • Body rear Red-orange dubbing (half)
  • Mid hackle Badger or GP (1-2 turns)
  • Body front Darker dubbing (half)
  • Wing GP tippet or hair (sparse)
  • Hackle Long soft collar (front)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the salmon double and start red thread. Carry it to the bend above the barb.
  2. Tie in a golden pheasant red breast feather by the tip at the bend, wind 2-3 turns to make a flowing veiled tail, then sweep the fibers back and tie down.
  3. Dub a red-orange rear body over the back half of the shank, keeping it slim.
  4. Wind a badger or golden pheasant mid-hackle, 1-2 turns, at the halfway point and sweep it back. This is the shrimp's waist joint.
  5. Dub a darker front body over the front half, stopping short of the eye.
  6. Tie in a sparse wing of golden pheasant tippet or hair, low and reaching to the tail joint.
  7. Wind a long soft collar hackle at the front, 2-3 turns, and stroke it back and down.
  8. Form a red head, whip finish and cement.

Tying videos

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