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GG's Krystal Shrimp
by Ray Gattus
Shrimp
patterns are one of my South Shore, Long Island. I've had anglers that
don't fly fish wanting me to make this pattern for them so they could
use it on the three-way for weakfish. The three-way system consists of
tying a three-way swivel to your main line, then tying a 3/4- to 1-ounce
bucktail to the bottom on about 12 to 18 inches of 17-pound-test line,.
Tie the shrimp pattern off of that as a teaser with approximately 3 feet
of 17-pound-test. This is fished just like bucktailing -- drop it to the
bottom and work it up and down, trying to keep the slack out so you can
feel the hits. As for fly fishing, I've caught bass, weakfish, and shad
on this fly, but it's most effective on fluke and weakfish.
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Materials
- Hook:
34007 1/0 bent slightly to shape
- Thread:
Clear, fine monofilament
- Eyes:
Nickel plated with black pupils for fly fishing -- Large beadchain
for bucktailing
- Body:
Either pearl Mylar tubing, pearl Glitterbody, or pearl Krystal
Flash
In order to get a full body with Krystal Flash, I recommend
using at least six full-length strands wrapped around the
hook shank, wrapping the hook only from the barbell eyes (tied
at the bend of the hook) back to the hook eye.
- Shell:
Either pink, olive green, or grey Krystal Flash.
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Steps
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 1:
Bend the eye of the hook back, so that it is in line with the point. Place
it in the vice and tie in the barbell eyes at the bend. They should be
placed just about in line with the barb.
. 2:
Tie in at least six full strands of pearl Krystal Flash. You may substitute
Glitterbody, Krystal chenille,or
any other flashy, pearl-colored material. Taper the body from the back
of the barbell eyes down to the eye of the hook. Try to end the body material
somewhere in the middle of the shank, leaving about one-half inch of material
hanging in order to give the pattern a “leg effect.” Bring the tying thread
to the opposite side of the eyes for the next step.
 3:
The shell is created on the front side of the eyes, leaving about 3/8-
to 1/2-inch of material overhanging the bend of the hook. This must
be wrapped tightly, being careful not to break the thread.
Hold the material up so that you can work your thread back to the other
side of the eyes. Two winds of the thread should be enough to get you
there. Now hold the material down on the hook and wrap it with a couple
of turns, then hold the material up again and repeat the process, working
your way towards the eye of the hook.
Each
segment should be no wider than about one-quarter of an inch. Tie it
in at the eye of the hook and cut the material long, leaving about one-quarter
of an inch beyond the hook to flair and look like a tail.
You can make the shell as heavy or thin as you like, and also make the
flies as large or small as you need to match the hatch. I carry a variety
of colors and sizes, especially when the weakfish and fluke are in.
When the bluefish are in I just carry a lot.
Ray Gattus
is a professional Long Island tyer who runs Grey Ghost Flies & Bucktails.
You can contact him at 516-795-3785 or on the Internet at GGFlyTyer@aol.com.
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