Shrimp Flies are the backbone of Salmon fishing in the British Isles. Truth be told they are equally effective on Salmon and Steelhead all over the world.
Tied on Partridge Doubles or Alec Jackson Singles
This is probably the most fished and successful of all of the Ally's Shrimp patterns over the past no. of years. It fishes consistently well in clear or coloured water, this fly has been the downfall of many fish. Its popularity probably originates in its ability to produce numbers of fish where other patterns have failed and its seemingly "magnetic" attraction to even long time resident fish in a pool. It can be fished throughout the season with confidence and seems to have no preference of location or water type.
The Grand Daddy of all of the Irish Shrimp fly patterns, created by Pat Curry in the early part of the 20th Century, this fly has few equals in medium to slow paced water. With its bright badger hackles and black and red body colours, this fly operates in a variety of water conditions from clear through to heavily spate coloured water. With it's three wound hackles, the fly an be "tiipped" through slower flows where it is extremely effective. The pattern has spawned a myriad of variants and "cousins", some of which has found their own place in the "hall of fame", but none have ever overtaken the Curry's Red as a fish catching pattern throughout a season long spell in the variety of water conditions to be encountered.
A pattern originally from the Kyle of Sutherland, this fly has gained great popularity throughout Scotland, Ireland and England. It is unusual in the fact that it has a copper coloured body which is very effective in coloured water and in the back end of the season. Its striking colour scheme of Black, Copper and Hot Orange has proven to be a good taker of fish, particularly in spate systems and other rivers that carry a bit of colour.
