Sea-Run Squimp!
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 1:31 pm
Many of us have heard of the venerable Squimp, a heavily weighted bonefish fly. To those that haven't it is essentially a shrimp pattern fly with weighted eyes and certain features that give it a pretty realistic look.
Obviously this is Washington, not the Florida Keys... and we have no bonefish here. What we do have is droves of shrimp eating saltwater fishes that will pounce on this type of offering on a whim. I'm mainly referring to Sea-Run Cutthroat and Resident Coho here, but also to be included are Bull Trout and various salmon species. Many people know that SRC's and Rezzies key in on baitfish such as chum and humpy fry when available. But, during times of the year such as the winter when such food sources are scarce, these fish turn largely on shrimp and other similar creatures to form the bulk of their diet. They still will eat these offerings alongside salmon fry, too.
Shrimp remain an important food source year round and certainly are worth hucking alongside various saltwater patterns.
So, enter the Sea-Run Squimp. Yes, there's plenty of shrimp patterns out there, but this one I really like. It looks great, has a ton of motion underwater, is easy and fun to tie, and of course is a design of my own which I take pride in. It maintains characteristics very similar to the original squimp but with some additions being made. Most notably, I remove the lead eyes and instead weigh the flies with lead free heavy wire. Tying:
Hook: Daiichi Saltwater, Size 6-10 (I prefer 8)
Feelers/Antennae: Bucktail/Deadly Dazzle
Claws: Rubber Legs
Underbody/Legs: Saddle Hackle
Shell/Carapace: Cut Rabbit fur or Marabou + some deadly dazzle sometimes
Weight: Heavy Wire
Have Fun!
Obviously this is Washington, not the Florida Keys... and we have no bonefish here. What we do have is droves of shrimp eating saltwater fishes that will pounce on this type of offering on a whim. I'm mainly referring to Sea-Run Cutthroat and Resident Coho here, but also to be included are Bull Trout and various salmon species. Many people know that SRC's and Rezzies key in on baitfish such as chum and humpy fry when available. But, during times of the year such as the winter when such food sources are scarce, these fish turn largely on shrimp and other similar creatures to form the bulk of their diet. They still will eat these offerings alongside salmon fry, too.
Shrimp remain an important food source year round and certainly are worth hucking alongside various saltwater patterns.
So, enter the Sea-Run Squimp. Yes, there's plenty of shrimp patterns out there, but this one I really like. It looks great, has a ton of motion underwater, is easy and fun to tie, and of course is a design of my own which I take pride in. It maintains characteristics very similar to the original squimp but with some additions being made. Most notably, I remove the lead eyes and instead weigh the flies with lead free heavy wire. Tying:
Hook: Daiichi Saltwater, Size 6-10 (I prefer 8)
Feelers/Antennae: Bucktail/Deadly Dazzle
Claws: Rubber Legs
Underbody/Legs: Saddle Hackle
Shell/Carapace: Cut Rabbit fur or Marabou + some deadly dazzle sometimes
Weight: Heavy Wire
Have Fun!