Tag Archives: irish flies

The Prince Shrimp

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Prince Shrimp

Prince Shrimp

Black flies such as the Stoats Tail, Black Bear Green Butt and Black Shrimp all work very well on the Munster Blackwater river.    I devised the Prince Shrimp a while back when the only fly working in low clear water was the Black Shrimp.    The Prince Shrimp also has a tail of black golden pheasant.

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It has a glow bright lime green tag and some very dark claret boar bristles in the tail.  The rear body is black floss ribbed with oval silver.  The mid hackle is dyed red badger.

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The Prince Shrimp has a front body of UV Neon Silver straggle.  The roof is a pair of dyed red jungle cock feathers.  The fly is finished with a front hackle of cream badger.

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Duckfly Preparations

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As a new trout season approaches it is time for me to prepare for an annual trip to Lough Corrib in late March.  All this stormy weather every weekend means there is little else to do but tie flies and dream of some proper wild lough trout fishing! Last season it was absolutely freezing for the time of year and no flies hatched.  Our most successful method was a team of wet flies fished on a fast intermediate line.

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We also picked up a fish or two in sheltered bays on epoxy buzzers and shrimp patterns.  BUT this year, hopefully, things will be better.  Milder weather, a hatch of fly etc.  So I have already started tying up a few flies to try.  Some wets, dabblers and these small bumbles:

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I wouldn’t be happy lake fishing without a selection of buzzers.  It is worth having some light ones to fish on the top dropper and heavier ones for the point:

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I may also need some emergers and dries if fish are moving at the surface.

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Salmon/sea trout snake flies

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Having recently experimented with trout snake flies  I had an idea for some salmon and sea trout ones.  These are not the traditional snakes tied with a long mylar body over braid and a hair wing.  Mine are tied with rabbit zonker strips.  A treble right in the tail and a salar double up front.  I have seen a few salmon flies tied with zonker strips out back as a sort of long flowing tail.  I could just see sea trout nipping at the tails of these with little or no hook ups.  Take a look at these!!

Red salmon snake

Red salmon snake

The treble right in the tail will sort out any short takers.

Cascade Salmon Snake

Cascade Salmon Snake

The hooks are connected by a uv straggle twisted into a rope which forms the body.

Silver & Blue Sea Trout Snake

Silver & Blue Sea Trout Snake

This facilitates lots of movement in the water.  Blue and silver is a great combination for sea trout.  The flies are finished off with some arctic fox and a little bling.  They have a super profile!!

Salmon/sea trout snakes

Salmon/sea trout snakes