In less than a month, we kick off our bonefishing season at Andros South. So, today we present you with detailed instructions on how to tie one of our favorite bonefish flies, Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp.
Enjoy!
Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp – Tying Instructions
Materials:
Hook: Tiemco 811s – Sizes 2-6.
Thread: UTC 140 – Shell Pink.
Lead Eyes: Lead, Brass, or Bead Chain Eyes – Silver.
Egg Sac: Glo Bugs Yarn – Steelhead Orange.
Tail: Craft Fur – Sand.
Eyes: Mono Eyes – Black.
Antennae: Krystal Flash – Black.
Legs: Silli Legs – Pumpkin/Black.
Body: Diamond Braid – Pearl.
Wing: Rabbit – Tan.
Step 1: Secure thread at the eye of the hook. Tie in brass eyes using figure eight wraps of thread. Lead or bead chain eyes could be used as well, depending on the depth you’re fishing.Step 2: Catch in a small length of orange Glo Bugs Yarn, double over, and cover with thread wraps to just shy of the hook point. Trim the Glo Bugs Yarn so that it extends just past the hook bend to create an egg sac.Step 3: Catch in a small clump of craft fur on top of the egg sac extending approximately 1.5 times the length of the hook shank.Step 4: Tie in mono eyes on each side of the shank so they extend past the egg sac.Step 5: Catch in a strand of black Krystal Flash as antennae, and double over so that each strand extends on opposite sides of the shank. The Krystal Flash should extend well past the craft fur tail as shown above.Step 6: Tie in a pair of rubber legs on each side of the shank (4 legs total). Once again, we did this by doubling over a single strand on each side.Step 7: Catch in a length of pearl Diamond Braid. Wrap forward in touching turns and tie off at mid shank but DO NOT TRIM. Make sure the excess extends over the top of the fly as seen above.Step 8: Turn the fly over in the vise and catch in a small clump of tan rabbit fur (trimmed from a zonker strip) at the front of the Diamond Braid. Lay down clean base of thread wraps all the way to the brass eyes.Step 9: Catch in a second clump of rabbit just behind the brass eyes and clean up any errant fibers with thread wraps.Step 10: Advance thread to just in front of brass eyes and catch in a third clump of rabbit fur.Step 11: Turn the fly back over in the vice. Pull the excess strand of Diamond Braid tight over the top of the brass eyes and tie down just in front of the eyes.Step 12: Build a clean head, whip finish, and cement!
