THE FLATS SHRIMP

FLORIDA KEYS FLATS FISHING FLY SELECTION

THE FLATS SHRIMP


The Flats Shrimp is another great little pattern for bonefish, redfish or any crustacean eater.  I used a Gamakatsu B10 Stinger for the fly due to the longer shank. 


DIFFICULTY

Deer Hair Shrimp bonefish fly

THE RECIPE


Tail: Cree hackles Splayed and orange Krystal Flash


Butt: Rust Craft Fur


Body:  Craft Fur dubbed and then trimmed


Eyes: Medium Bead Chain


Weed Guard: Mono V


Hook: Gamakatsu B10 Stinger #2

STEP 1


Secure a Gamakatsu B10 Stinger #2 in your vise. Tie in some medium bead chain eyes with the figure eight method. Cover the hook with some flat waxed Wine colored thread all the way to the bend. 


TYING TIPS

No Tying tips for this step

deer hair shrimp fly for bonefish

MUST HAVE PRODUCTS


STONFO ELITE ROTODUBBING TWISTER


$49.95

HOOK DESCRIPTION


GAMAKATSU B10 STINGER

While the Gamakatsu B10 S Stinger Finesse Hook is widely known as one of the best hooks around for tying your own custom bass bugs and streamers, what many anglers don’t know is that it is also one of the best wacky rig hooks on the market. It’s classic O’Shaughnessy bend cradles wacky rigged worms and senkos perfectly, and its straight shank design creates a straight pull that greatly increases your hook up ratio. Sticky sharp like all Gamakatsu hooks and forged 1X strong with a sleek black nickel finish, FLW Tour pro, Brent Ehler, recently started using the Gamakatsu B10 S Stinger on tour for wacky rigging, and can't believe the difference.

MATERIAL INFORMATION


KYRSTAL FLASH

Similar to Flashabou Accent but available in many more colors.  Krystal Flash is an brilliant Fly and Jig Tying Material. It is a unique, super brilliant material. Flashabou Accent comes in a bundle of long, spiraled fibers that give the appearance of tiny lights at each spiral. Krystal Flash was developed for flies, but also works great on Crappie and Bass Jigs and Spinners.

EQUIPMENT INFORMATION


DYNA KING BARRACUDE VISE

This finely crafted vise offers all of the great features preferred by professional tyers everywhere. With high grade brass knobs, all stainless steel construction except the jaws made out of hardened tool steel, smooth rotation with precision ball bearings, easy height adjustment, 90° handle for speed crank, convenient material clip, notch lock cam, excellent hook holding capability 32 to 8/0, and bobbin hanger included.

STEP 2


Tie in  sprigs of Orange Krystal flash to start. For the next step you have options. You can just make a dubbing loop and with olive dubbing and create a little ball for the feathers to splay on. This will be important for the next step. I just used a olive EP shrimp dub brush.


TYING TIPS

Tie the dubbing or ep brush past the bend of the hook

deer hair shrimp fly for bonefish
craft fur for fly tying

MATERIAL INFORMATION


CRAFT FUR

Extra Select Craft Fur from Hareline is a must-have material for any angler’s fly-tying kit. This high-quality craft fur is widely used in many saltwater and streamer fly patterns and has become popular due to its remarkable durability and natural look. The material comes in a wide range of colors, which guarantees that every angler can find the perfect shade that matches their specific fly-tying needs.

bonefish

MATERIAL INFORMATION


KYRSTAL FLASH

Similar to Flashabou Accent but available in many more colors.  Krystal Flash is an brilliant Fly and Jig Tying Material. It is a unique, super brilliant material. Flashabou Accent comes in a bundle of long, spiraled fibers that give the appearance of tiny lights at each spiral. Krystal Flash was developed for flies, but also works great on Crappie and Bass Jigs and Spinners.

STEP 3


In this step the placement of the feathers is crucial. You want to tie them 45 degrees from the hook shank and nudged up against that ball of dubbing or EP brush. You want those feathers splaying outward ad much as possible.  See figure 2. Bring the thread back to the center of the hook. 


TYING TIPS

No Tying tips for this step

FIG. 1
deer hair shrimp fly for bonefish
FIG 2.
dubbing loop

STEP 4


In this step, I used some under fur from a hunk of Craft fur. Just take a comb and brush it until you get enough fibers to complete the task. You can also, cut some craft fur off of the "hide" and just dub some in that way. 


TYING TIPS

Note:  Leave yourself enough room to finish off the head. See Figure 1. 

deer hair shrimp fly for bonefish
BEST DUBBING TWISTER EVER INVENTED

Stonfo Elite Rotodubbing Twister


You need one of these. That wasn't a question  BUY IT HERE

THE ART OF THE DUBBING LOOP

"With deft fingers, the fly angler weaves a tale of deception through the art of dubbing loops. A delicate dance begins as strands of fine dubbing material are intricately looped onto the thread, creating a textured canvas that mimics the nuances of aquatic insects. With each wrap, the fly takes form, a lifelike illusion of prey. The dubbing loop technique transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, giving life to a fly that beckons the discerning trout from its watery realm."

STEP 5


Okay, so now make your dubbing loop. Cut some craft fur in the manner you see in figure 1. There is a more simple way of doing this which I will cover at a later date. Spin the dubbing twister until all the material is tightly spun. Take a small wire brush or dubbing brush and brush the craft fur lightly. You're just trying to get all the stuck fibers loose. Now tightly wrap the dubbing brush all the way to the eye of the hook. and tie off.  Brush again with wire brush.  Trim to the shape you see in Figure 2.

FIG. 1
deer hair shrimp fly for bonefish
FIG. 2
deer hair shrimp fly for bonefish

STEP 6


Tie in that weed guard. This is a must for fishing in all types of grass. I use 16lb or 20lb. HARD MASON MONO. Do not use regular monofilament.


Note: I will be covering the proper way to tie in weed guards in a future tutorial.  There a several different ways but I generally just use two, each for different situations.

deer hair shrimp fly for bonefish
deer hair shrimp fly for bonefish

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