The Majestic Twelve - #2 - Polar Shrimp

[flyDology 0]

Keeping a shrimpy theme and working through the spectrum. #2 on my list of the essential classics is the Polar Shrimp. I caught my first wild Winter steelhead buck with a version of this pattern on Oregon's Sandy River.

• Category: Steelhead
• Thread: Fl. Orange
• Tail: Red hackle fibers
• Rib: Medium Silver Oval Tinsel
• Body: Hot orange angora
• Hackle: Hot orange saddle with orange Guinae collar
• Wing/Wingcase: White bucktail

See pattern details here

[Piker20 0]

Another beauty. Would you swap the white bucktail out for fox or squirrel or something more mobile now a days?

[flyDology 0]

you could, but I like the bucktail or polar bear and still successfully fish with that material. I am not trying to be modern with this collection, on the contrary, I am trying to get closer to originals with my personal tying style thrown on top of it. In fact, if I wanted to update these, I would tie these with arctic fox or finn coon.

 

Also to consider the water I fish in. I need materials that stand up to heavy currents on a wet fly swing - often with a sinktip. I don't want materials to collapse under this stress. The Bucktail option allows me the right amount of stiffness. you'd be surprised at how supple it can actually be.

[Piker20 0]

I totally get what your doing with the original thing. I often use some buck under the softer fur to give the wing shape but I do agree, the fish hit them regardless and I do wonder when you look at flies from 25, 50, 100 years ago, how far we have come in terms of better fish catchers.

[FlyFishin'Jam 0]

Fantastic looking version of this, heh was swinging one two days ago