Home Made Shrimp Flies

Inspired by PSpark’s home made Tinsel Jig, I did a little experimenting too.  I had a box of 8/0 hooks not being used, so I decided to put them to use.  My goal was to tie tinsel based shrimp flies for rockfish.



I went to Michael’s craft store and bought metallic tinsel (green and silver) that is used for stuffing easter/gift baskets.  I also bought a small pack of cheap feathers.  I don’t recall the cost but it was about $2 bucks for each item.  I already had the hooks and used some old Dacron fishing line off of an old reel to double tie the rigs.  The cost per jig is pretty cheap, but definitely labor intensive.

At the Elk derby, I had one rod with two flies on a dropper rig (8 oz ball at the bottom).  On another rod, had a lone diamond jig.

I alternated rods between the shrimp flies and diamond jig, but it seemed like the fish were preferring the iron that day.  I did get a few fish on the shrimp flies, but need to do more field testing before making a judgment.

Next time I’ll try using one shrimp fly with a diamond jig at the bottom to see which one is preferred.

Stuart

looks good....can I mooch one off you  

I'll tell you what, for about 20 bucks you can get a beginning fly tying kit.  That'll teach you the basic wraps, and techniques.  Then just start applying them.
Take those lovely little feather tails that the x-rap has. Owner sells them 9 smackers for 3.  I can tie a dozen in an hour- and materials are about 3 bucks.

Of course if you want to save a few bucks, then just pick up a fly vise, a thread spool holder and you're set.  Get clear nail polish, some green and crystal flash, white and chartreuse bucktail, and you can tie a zillion shrimp flies, hairraisers, and hairtails....

With those big hooks, I just use a bench vise.  Then I tie things with spectra off my rockfishing reels, figuring I'm getting rid of the nicked up end part of the line.  A little dab of epoxy once it's done and it'll never come apart.