The Shrimp Fly
The Shrimp Fly
Shrimp flies were first tied in the early nineteen thirties, the one which has
become most popular is Curry's Red Shrimp, by Pat Curry from Coleraine,
Northern Ireland.
There are almost as many variations of this pattern now as there are fly-tiers;
no question, for the small or medium sized rivers of the North-West it is a
very effective fly; countless salmon fall for it every season.
Like many salmon flies, the Shrimp Fly should be tied on doubles or trebles (
preferable trebles ) in sizes 8 to 14.
Materials:
Thread - black
Tag - oval silver
Body - 1/2 flat silver, 1/2 black floss
Ribbing - oval silver
Veilings - few fibres ( hook length ) of red golden pheasant flank feathers,
tied down at centre of fly, top and bottom; optional: three strands of pearl
flashabou or crinkle-flash
Hackles - one red, one badger ( grizzled ), only one turn each
Wings - jungle cock
Top Ten
Flies for Ireland
Hilariously funny, seriously, this is angling's answer to "Last Of The Summer
Wine"! .....Ray Robinson is a real life "Compo" who goes fishing with Dietrich
Bohnhorst.....I give it 10 out of 10.....a must have DVD for all the
family.
Roger Baker, Irish Angler Magazine
This DVD is a must for every fisherman who wants to learn the delicate art of
flytying.
The beautiful scenery enhances the pleasure of this film, as does the dry
humour of his eccentric English friend "the great Raymondo". Watch as they
tramp the landscape, dressed as if extras in Monty Python's Quest for the Holy
Grail, (which in a sense they are, in a fishy sort of way).
Great Entertainment for all the Family
114 minutes of fly-tying and fishing. Dietrich Bohnhorst's entertaining and
practical guide for every game angler. On DVD for only EURO 20
or order by phone
Tel.: ++353-(0)74-97 36922
Anchoring for Salmon
Small flies in sizes 12 or 14, even 16 are used to catch salmon in low water
conditions. When water levels- and speeds are higher, the small flies are hard
to fish, they often don't go deep enough and come around too fast, can hardly
be noticed by any fish.
What these two well known anglers of the region, Ray and Dietrich, now observed
was: when fishing bigger flies in higher water, nosey salmon came up to have a
look at the Shrimp Flies, Silver Doctors, Soldier Palmers or whatever was used
as attractor fly; but didn't take. They are coming short, was the common
explanation.
Raydeveloped a theory now: so, the anchors ( he called generally anything but
singles by that name ) are only looked at, and always from the same distance,
they never come closer than about eighteen inches. Therefore another, smaller
fly has to be tied that distance behind the anchors. When they now come up to
have a look at the anchor, the small fly dangles around their eyes, annoys them
and they just grab it.
Dietrich stared in slight amazement at his well known angler colleague Ray and
successfully suppressed a hefty laugh.
Following his theory, Ray began working on a cast: on the bob came a Shrimp
Fly, tied on a size 10 double, eighteen inches behind that came a size 14
Bibio, after another four foot or so came a Soldier Palmer, size 8, single
hook. Now every fish looking at the anchor, must have his snout right close to
the Bibio explained Ray as he prepared for the first cast with this
combination; his colleague, the other well known angler of the region,
Dietrich, stared again in amazement and could not suppress a laugh, or two this
time.
On this first Trial with the 18 inches method, inventive Ray caught three
salmon, between 4 and 6 pounds, all on the small Bibio, though the water was
actually, much to high for the small fly. The heavy Shrimp Fly obviously
stabilised the Bibio, brought it to the right depth and attracted salmon.
Dietrich lost his humour that day, since he couldn't catch a fish on his
conventional cast - they all came short; you see.
DEDICATION
In 1995 Dietrich Bohnhorst and Ray Robinson produced DEDICATION, a four part
movie, following two dedicated fly-fishers through various entertaining and
exciting expeditions on land and sea in the North-West of Ireland.
After DEDICATION was shown on European TV via French Station AB-Sat and in
North America via a cable network it became somewhat of an angler's cult film.
All 107 minutes of DEDICATION are available for only €20 on DVD;
or order by phone
Tel.: ++353-(0)74-97 36922
DEDICATION is not a how to or where to go program. It's a slice of life.
