Fly Of The Month

Jul 2002

Cinnamon Shrimp
by Jaiem Fleischmann

Materials

Hook: Mustad 34007, size 1/0
Thread: Red
Tail: Pearl Flashabou
Body: Copper/brown Speckled Chenille
Upper Wing: Red bucktail
Topping: Red Krystal Flash
Misc.: Head cement

Tying Instructions

1. Place hook in vise, attach the thread to the hook and tie 6-8 strands of pearl Flashabou at the bend of the hook. Trim the Flashabou so it is extending approximately ¼ back.
2. Move the thread to the front of the fly behind he eye and secure a length of copper/brown Speckled Chenille. Wrap the hook shank in two layers of chenille, going towards the back of the hook and then returning to the front. Secure the end of the chenille behind the hook eye and trim any excess.
3. Turn the hook over so that the point is now on top and tie on a short (1-1.5 inch) length of red Bucktail as the upper wing just behind the hook eye. Allow the bucktail to extend back over the hook point and past the bend.
4. Tie 4-6 strands of red Krystal Flash over the red Bucktail. Allow the Krystal Flash to extend to the same length as the longest Bucktail hairs.
5. Whip-finish the head and seal with head cement.
6. Done!

Background

Bay shrimp are a common and important food for many game fish including stripers, weakfish (seatrout), fluke/flounder and redfish (drum). This pattern effectively imitates shrimp in the often cloudy or muddy waters of the bay. It can be fished on a floating or intermediate line in very shallow waters or on s sinking line or sink tip in deeper waters.