Match Shrimp
A small shrimp imitation
By Martin Joergensen
Matching the hatch is rarely the item when fishing for sea trout in the ocean. The fish are rarely selective and you're sometimes surprised by which flies they are willing to take. But on a few occasions it can be important to imitate the small animals eaten by the trout.
A shrimp thing
This matching seems to be most important when the fish are focused on shrimps or other crustaceans like small gammarus and mysis species which is often the case in the fall where the fish have a huge selection of food items.
Visible eyes
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In such situations it can be crucial to have a fly that looks like the animals you see in the water or find in the stomachs of fish that have been caught earlier.
This fly is such an imitation. It is supposed to look like a small shrimp of the type that is often found in the fjords of Denmark. This shrimp will vary in size, but typically be less than 2 centimeters (3/4") and be characterized by a light gray or tan body which is almost transparent, long antennae and two black and very visible eyes. It moves forwards at a fairly decent pace, but escapes backwards in a quick movement.
Easy match
The Match Shrimp - thusly called because of its size more than its matching capabillities - is a great imitation and very easy to tie. I prefer using a heavy hook and lead wire to make it penetrate the surface, but you might choose otherwise. One disadvantage with the Partridge Sea Prince hook is its poor penetrating power in this small size. A hook of a thinner wire could be a better choice.
Materials for The Match Shrimp
| Hook
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Small but heavy stainless hook like a Partridge Sea Prince size 10
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| Thread
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Tan or white 8/0
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| Weight
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Lead wire
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| Eyes
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Monofilament
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| Tail (antennae)
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Opossum guard hair
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| Body
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Opossum underfur
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Small but effective
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Instructions for The Match Shrimp
- Cover 2/3 of the hook shank with lead wire
- Start the thread at the hook bend
- Cover the lead with a criss-cross of thread
- Seal the lead with a drop of varnish
- Prepare monofilament eyes this way:
- Cut two 2 centimeter (3/4") pieces of heavy monofilament
- Heat one end to form a small ball
- Dye ball with a black water proof pen or varnish
- Trim the eye stalks to approx. 3-4 millimeters
- Tie in the eyes making sure that they sit on each side of the hook shank
- Add a bit more varnish
- Prepare a small bunch of opossum by removing underfur - which you should save
- Remove stray hairs and tie in the bunch over the eyes with the tips ending a hook length behind the hook
- Dub the thread and cover shank to form a cylindrical body
- Form a small head
- Varnish
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