Post by Qwek on Apr 22, 2005 21:36:48 GMT 8
Hi Folks,
Here's another pattern by Al Campbell of FAOL:
Al's Shrimpf (By Al Campbell)
Al's Shrimpf is a pattern that's derived from my Shwapf pattern used in fresh water. The idea behind this fly was to create a pattern that is easy to tie, is easy to vary the color and size to fit local conditions, and looks like a shrimp when you're finished. The bonefish loved it on a recent trip to Belize.
Too many bonefish patterns don't look like anything in the water. By that, I mean they look vaguely like shrimp or crabs, but they don't really look like shrimp or crabs. On the other hand, the Shrimpf does look like a shrimp when you put it in the water. I'm not the only one who sees it that way either. The bonefish of Belize chose it overwhelmingly over the standard patterns tried by the group I was with.
The Shrimpf incorporates some of the key features found in most successful bonefish flies. It has a body that seems to glow and has some crystal flash that attracts fish. Unlike most other bonefish patterns, it's easy to tie and can be easily varied to match the size, color and sink rate of the fly to the desires of the fish. Except for the cost of hooks and a variety of crystal flash, these flies aren't expensive to tie either.
Materials: Al's Shrimpf
Hook: Mustad 3407, S71S, C70S or equivalent stainless saltwater hook, size 4 to 8.
Thread: 3/0 orange thread.
Tail: Orange crystal flash.
Back and hackle: Long fox squirrel tail hair with dark tips.
Body: Wide pearlescent tinsel (I usually get mine from the long tinsel sold for Christmas decorations).
Eyes: Silver bead chain. For less weight I use pearl craft beads in the smallest size I can find.
Cement : Any water-base cement will work.
The steps for tying the Al's Shrimpf is found here: www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/082701fotw.html
____________________
When I started flyfishing, I don't have much knowledge on the flies to use here. Most of the patterns, or rather pattern that I used is the Crazy Charlie. They will given to me like candies, I was told that it is the fly to use here and nothing else. So it was, Charlie for a few months, and no fish or takes for that period. It got me to experiment with other patterns and of course flytying.
One of the patterns was the Als'Shrimpf, the other was the Gurgler. Tied a couple and showed it to my regular kaki then for his opinion. He took one look and threw the flies away, reached into his fly box and shoved a couple of Charlie into my hand. "Charlie" he said, "is the only flies to use, I have caught thousand of fish using the Charlie, nothing else." and he went to nail himself to his regular spot by the fountain to fish. Charlie, that the name I gave to him and went my way. Suddenly I began to make new friends in the flyfishing community here. So long Charlie, hello Al's Shrimpf.
This is the first tarpon that I've caught on the Al's Shrimpf many moons ago. The stick in the foreground is a Cabelas River Creek 4wt using immediate line.
Thanks Al.
Cheers
Qwek
Here's another pattern by Al Campbell of FAOL:
Al's Shrimpf (By Al Campbell)
Al's Shrimpf is a pattern that's derived from my Shwapf pattern used in fresh water. The idea behind this fly was to create a pattern that is easy to tie, is easy to vary the color and size to fit local conditions, and looks like a shrimp when you're finished. The bonefish loved it on a recent trip to Belize.
Too many bonefish patterns don't look like anything in the water. By that, I mean they look vaguely like shrimp or crabs, but they don't really look like shrimp or crabs. On the other hand, the Shrimpf does look like a shrimp when you put it in the water. I'm not the only one who sees it that way either. The bonefish of Belize chose it overwhelmingly over the standard patterns tried by the group I was with.
The Shrimpf incorporates some of the key features found in most successful bonefish flies. It has a body that seems to glow and has some crystal flash that attracts fish. Unlike most other bonefish patterns, it's easy to tie and can be easily varied to match the size, color and sink rate of the fly to the desires of the fish. Except for the cost of hooks and a variety of crystal flash, these flies aren't expensive to tie either.
Materials: Al's Shrimpf
Hook: Mustad 3407, S71S, C70S or equivalent stainless saltwater hook, size 4 to 8.
Thread: 3/0 orange thread.
Tail: Orange crystal flash.
Back and hackle: Long fox squirrel tail hair with dark tips.
Body: Wide pearlescent tinsel (I usually get mine from the long tinsel sold for Christmas decorations).
Eyes: Silver bead chain. For less weight I use pearl craft beads in the smallest size I can find.
Cement : Any water-base cement will work.
The steps for tying the Al's Shrimpf is found here: www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/082701fotw.html
____________________
When I started flyfishing, I don't have much knowledge on the flies to use here. Most of the patterns, or rather pattern that I used is the Crazy Charlie. They will given to me like candies, I was told that it is the fly to use here and nothing else. So it was, Charlie for a few months, and no fish or takes for that period. It got me to experiment with other patterns and of course flytying.
One of the patterns was the Als'Shrimpf, the other was the Gurgler. Tied a couple and showed it to my regular kaki then for his opinion. He took one look and threw the flies away, reached into his fly box and shoved a couple of Charlie into my hand. "Charlie" he said, "is the only flies to use, I have caught thousand of fish using the Charlie, nothing else." and he went to nail himself to his regular spot by the fountain to fish. Charlie, that the name I gave to him and went my way. Suddenly I began to make new friends in the flyfishing community here. So long Charlie, hello Al's Shrimpf.
This is the first tarpon that I've caught on the Al's Shrimpf many moons ago. The stick in the foreground is a Cabelas River Creek 4wt using immediate line.
Thanks Al.
Cheers
Qwek
