Needle Shrimp - step by step

How to tie the Needle Shrimp

A lightweight sea trout fly for late night fishing by John Gray


Materials
A needle (I have used a size 9 long darner)
Red and black tying thread size 8/0 or 6/0
Natural badger hair
Four strands of Crystal hair
Cock hackle dyed yellow

 

STEP 1 Tie a "stop" about 2mm long by winding black tying thread on to the needle about one centimetre from the needle point.
STEP 2 Lay a short bed of tying thread at the head of the needle.
STEP 3 Tie in a loop of heavy nylon monofilament. I have used thirty pound B.S.
STEP 4 Trim the ends of the nylon monofilament, cover with thread and apply a drop of varnish.
STEP 5 Tie in a bunch of hair to reach slightly beyond the tip of the needle.
STEP 6 Trim the butt ends of the hair and tie in securely.
STEP 7 Tie in a hackle.
STEP8 Wind three or four turns of hackle
STEP 9 Trim the hackle and wind a few turns of thread through the wound hackle to secure it
STEP 10 Pull the hackle back to the desired angle and finish the head with two coats of varnish.
STEP 11 The finished Needle Shrimp.
STEP 12 The Needle Shrimp attached to a big mouth double hook with a sleeve of PVC over the shank to secure the needle point.

For more information about the origin, development and construction of the needle fly, click: here

 

John Gray has always been a keen angler, giving up the security of a teaching job in 1983 to open a tackle shop in Kilsyth, which he ran for twenty years.

Thoughts on game fish brown trout fishing, a pleasant recreation; salmon fishing, a bloody hard day’s work; sea trout fishing, a glorious obsession

Fondest Memory
Of a time when sea trout swam in our north western rivers and lochs.

John is now fascinated by computers and the power of the internet, and sees Fish Wild! as an example of the worldwide web at its very best. He is currently developing a new website, www.trout-salmon-fishing.com, which aims to provide information on wild brown trout, salmon and sea trout fishing opportunities in Scotland. He would be grateful for any information, which might be usefully added to the website, particularly about reasonably priced, publicly accessible fishing in Scotland. Fishing hotels, tackle shops and angling clubs are also invited to submit details for free inclusion. Readers will find contact details on the website.