UR2B8 Shrimp Crustacean Saltwater Hook : Mustad 34007, 3407, 34011 or equal saltwater hook No.6 - 3/0. Thread : White monocord. Eyes : Melted mono stalk w/bead chain eye or melted mono. Head/feelers : Marabou, hair or synthetics and flash material to match locally available shrimp/crabs, white, olive, brown & barred varieties are most common. Body : Small Flexo-tubing clear. Additional : Colored permanent ink markers, epoxy or softex. Optional : Weedguard, round lead wire wrapped around shank for weight or bead chain, silicone caulk or goop and round rubber for legs.(legs are not optional on UR2B8 crab). Antennae : 2 strands from a paintbrush.
Tying Instructions 1) Prepare the mono and beadchain eyes. Cut two pieces of 20-30 lb Mason Hard Mono about 1 inch long each. Take a section of appropriately colored 1/8 inch diameter plastic beadchain and lay to the side, heat the tips of the mono until it begins to melt and press against one of the beads on the beadchain until they fuse together. Repeat for the other eye. When the eye/stalk combination has cooled cut the beads loose and coat with epoxy or dip in softex so that some of the glue goes past the bead on to the mono. Set aside to dry. 2) Place hook in vise and attach thread about 1/4 inch from bend, wrap to bend. Take 10-20 strands of flash material, opalescent and a color to match the body of the fly, about twice the length of the shank and tie in. These should be tied in at approx. the center and wrapped back over the ¼ inch of thread, fold flash material and wrap back towards bend to lock in place. 3) Attach appropriately colored marabou in by the tip, wrap thread back 3/8 inch. Wind marabou to the hanging thread and trap with two wraps of thread add a half hitch and trim excess marabou. 4) Wrap in the eye stalks one on either side of the hook shank add the paint brush bristles on top of the shank. Tie in a pair of hackle tips as claws for the crab fly splayed outward. Looking at the fly in profile the flashtail material should be approx. one shank length beyond the bend, with the marabou slightly shorter, the eyes about half the distance from the bend to the tips of the flash. The antennae should be 2 to 3 times the body length over all. 5) Slide the small Flexo-tubing over the eye of the hook back to the thread make several wraps with the thread and tighten add a half hitch or two and a drop of super glue, cut thread. 6) Take the end of the flexo-tubing and push back upon itself until it folds back into the wrapped marabou, and over the eye stalks forming the shell of the shrimp or the body of the crab. 7) Trim the end of the flexo-tubing at the eye of the hook and push the flexo a short ways up the shank. Start thread behind the eye let the flexo slide back behind the eye wrap the tips down and tie off and whip finish. 8) Crab only take a needle and run a piece of round rubber through the eye push through the body of the crab to make the legs. Add a drop of super glue where the rubber leaves the body to secure. 9) Color the flexo-tubing with permanent ink markers to achieve the color you wish.
Fly Notes Silicone caulk or goop may be used to make the horn of the shrimp and round rubber legs may be added if you are trying to make a ultra realistic shrimp.
Fishing Notes Floating to full sinking and shooting heads work well with this fly. Fish at the depth that fish are present with a very erratic or rhythmic retrieve, or if sight fishing cast to field of view of the fish and let settle then use a couple of quick short strips to simulate fleeing prey. This fly was designed mainly for redfish, trout and snook but will take saltwater game species from Ladyfish(skip jack) to Tarpon. The over all length of these flies should be from 1 inch to about 4 inches and they can easily be thrown with a floating to full sinking line or shooting head.
Location Notes
Prey Notes This fly can mimic all species of shrimp and crabs within reason. All white, white w/olive barring, all olive, olive w/dark barring and orange w/olive barring cover all the available shrimp along the Texas Coast.
Tier Robert Morger

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