Reverse SHP Crustacean Saltwater Hook : Mustad 34011 - No.2 & 4 or any other light gauge long shank hook. Thread : White. Antennae : White bucktail. A few strands of perl Krystalflash. Eyes : Black or dark green glass beads on mono stalks to form dumbbell. Hackle : White Cock hackle (or a variation with a grizzle hackle good too). Body : Silicone. Body overlay : Nail polish.
Tying Instructions 1) Bend hook shank away from the hook point and open hook gape a little . 2) Tie a bed of thread starting from hook eye to start of hook bend and return thread to hook eye. 3) Tie in a strip of lead along the top of the hook shank bend (done in step 1). 4) Take a bunch of bucktail twice length of hook (15 -20 hairs). 5) Tie end in at eye, holding tips high and ensuring bucktail stays on tops of shaft wrap bucktail with thread for full length of shaft. Take thread back toward hook eye by about 8mm. 6) Tie in a few lengths of Pearl Krystalflash, trimming to 8+mm longer than bucktail. 7) Tie in dumbbell glass bead eyes with a figure eight. 8) Tie in one hackle at a time, then use hackle pliers to wrap hackle around hook shaft. Ensure wraps very close to one another. As required add another hackle till shaft is full. 9) Trim top and sides of splayed hackles on the hook point side of the fly. 10) Reverse hook in vice. 11) Tie in some Pearl Krystalflash at hook eye so it lays along trimmed hackle area. 12) Tie off thread, trim excess. 13) Wetting fingers in a container of water and dishwashing liquid, form a cone shaped lump of Silicone. 14) Press into top of hook shaft where you trimmed off the hackle barbels. Ensuring Krystalflash in under silicone and layed straight and parallel to hook shank. 15) Pinching & pulling towards hook eye to form tapering body. 16) There should be a little excess at head, by pulling lump away steadily a tapering spike can be formed. Against the hook bend, try not to leave too much silicone on that may reduce the hook gape. 17) After silicone has cured (24+ hours) give a couple of coats of nail polish.
Fly Notes After a few attempts this body can be achieved quite easily. Don't worry about your poor attempts the fish will still eat them too even if they don't look right to you. The pattern has subtle motion and all the key traits of the real thing. Right shape, right size, right feel, dominant eyes and plenty of "eat me" when stripped correctly. This is a variation to the original I made (silicone Hackle Prawn), this one is mainly tied for flathead in amongst weed beds, the reverse hook reduces snags.
Fishing Notes Depending on target species shock tippets maybe required. Retrieval method is a Small strips of 6", with medium length pauses. Short rapid retrieves are an alternative. Target species include bream, flathead, Australian salmon, juvenile mulloway. Anything that would eat a prawn.
Location Notes Shallow weed patches. Designed for bottom of water column work.
Prey Notes Prawn representation.
Tier Richard Carter

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