Silicone Hackle Prawn Crustacean Saltwater Article Hook : Mustad 34011 No.2 & 4 or any other light gauge long shank hook. Thread : White. Antennae : White Bucktail & a few strands of pearl Krystalflash. Eyes : Black or dark green glass beads on mono stalks to form dumbbell. Hackle : White cock hackle. Body underlay : Silicone. Body overlay : 5 minute epoxy.
Tying Instructions 1) Bend hook to form belly curve in shaft of hook. 2) Tie a bed of thread starting from hook eye to start of hook bend and return thread to hook eye. 3) Take a bunch of bucktail twice length of hook (15 -20 hairs). 4) Tie end in at eye, holding tips high and ensuring bucktail stays on tops of shaft wrap full length of shaft. Take thread back toward hook eye by about 8mm. 5) Tie in a few lengths of Pearl Krystalflash, trimming to 8+mm longer than bucktail. 6) Tie in dumbbell glass bead eyes with a figure eight. 7) Tie in a hackle at 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. 8) Tie off thread. 9) Trim top and sides of splayed hackles. 10) Wetting fingers in a container of water and dishwashing liquid, form a cone shaped lump of Silicone. 11) Press into top of hook shaft. 12) Pinching0pulling towards hook eye to form tapering body. 13) There should be a little excess at head, by pulling lump away steadily a tapering spike can be formed. OR optionally just trim and shape as desired. 14) After silicone has partly cured (0.5 - 1 hour) mix a little five minute epoxy. Cover silicone with a very thin coating of epoxy. 15) As epoxy begins to set (4 minutes or so), wet your picking needle and form segments in body, 3 or 4 will do by pressing lengthways into body top and sides. You have to keep wetting your needle with the water-dishwashing liquid mixture to stop epoxy sticking to needle.
Fly Notes An intermediate sinking type prawn pattern, with softness of body yet firm of shell. Quick and easy to tie, almost see through like the real thing. A combination of a hackle prawn I've been tying for years with a silicone prawn a friend ties. After a few attempts this body can be achieved quick 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. Optional weed guard be added or tie fly with hook riding up but curve hook opposite way and open hook gape. Been thinking of injecting air bubbles into silicone to form sub-surface version, any body having a go at it, get back to me with any results. Maybe even adding in a glass rattle for dirty water version. Even cover shank with chartreuse LUMO tubing and flashing with cheap camera flash for night work. Lots of possibilities, lots of fun. Don't you just love fly tying and all its endless possibilities of materials and use thereof.
Fishing Notes Bream, flathead, Australian salmon, juvenile mulloway & anything that would prey on prawn. Depending on target species shock tippets maybe required. Retrieval method is small strips of 15cm with medium length pauses. Short rapid retrieves used as an alternative.
Location Notes Shallow weed patches. Designed for top of water column work.
Prey Notes Prawn representation.
Tier Richard Carter

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