In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Olly Thompson with Aardvark McLeod Fly Fishing ties a shrimp pattern that saltwater flats anglers should never be without, the EP Shrimp.
Difficulty: Easy
With the new year arriving and frigid temperatures keeping many anglers indoors, this is a perfect time to dream of ocean flats fishing. A pattern that should be in every anglers flats box is the EP Shrimp. Whether in the Seychelles or cold water flats of New England, this fly will produce fish consistently. Shrimp are a flats food item that fish indulge themselves upon heavily, and their relatively simple profiles make them a quick tie for experienced tyers.
The invention of dubbing brushes, specifically EP brushes, have made tying these flies significantly easier. Offering different sizes and colors, you can effectively imitate your local shrimp species without trouble. This contributes to a consistent size of the body, which makes for stronger profile and imitation, which is always the goal on the flats. Selecting the properly weighted eyes for depth is also extremely important, and tying several EP Shrimps in various weights will avert this potential problem.
For your next trip to the tropics, or in your next outing in the saltwater, make sure you bring an arsenal of EP Shrimps. From triggerfish to striped bass, this fly gets it done with any and all flats species. Cold days spent on the vise is a perfect way to prepare for your next saltwater outing, and no trip should exclude the EP Shrimp. Enjoy your favorite drink and podcast, and tie up a batch of these flats killers for your first new years resolution.
Ingredients:
- Hook: Gamakatsu SL 11
- Eyes: Home made burnt Mono, nail varnish and UV glue
- Tail: Calf’s tail in tan and Krystal flash, black and hot orange. Two strands of each.
- Thread: Veevus GSP 100d
- Wing Material: Hareline Dubbin Scud Dub Shrimp Scud
- Body material: EP streamer brush, 0.5 inches.
- Legs: Chicone’s Barred Micro Crusher Legs Olive/ clear
- Lead Eyes: Hareline Dubbin Nickel Plated Lead Dumbbell Eyes Size small or extra small.
Now you know how to tie the EP Shrimp!
Video and ingredients courtesy of Aardvark McLeod Fly Fishing.
