Polar Shrimp
The Polar Shrimp is a bright, flashy steelhead pattern with a long West Coast tradition. Its orange body and white wing stand out in stained winter water, and the red or orange hackle provides a burst of color that fresh-run steelhead find impossible to resist. Fish it on a downstream swing in the top half of the water column on a floating or intermediate line. Especially productive in the first few hours after fresh fish enter a pool.
- Type
- wet fly (Steelhead)
- Hook sizes
- #2–8
- Target species
- steelhead
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Best seasons
- fall, winter, spring
Materials
- hook: Steelhead wet fly hook #2–8
- thread: Red or black 6/0
- tail: Red hackle fibers or orange calf tail
- body: Orange chenille, floss, or Antron
- ribbing: Oval gold tinsel
- hackle: Orange hen or saddle, collar
Tying steps
- Mount a size 2–8 steelhead hook; start red or black thread.
- Tie in a short tail of red hackle fibers or orange calf tail at the bend.
- Wind oval gold tinsel rib at the bend.
- Dub or wind a bright orange chenille or floss body from bend to the 2/3 mark.
- Counter-wrap oval gold tinsel rib over the body in 5 spirals.
- Tie in an orange hackle collar; make 3–4 turns.
- Tie in a generous wing of white polar bear or white calf tail.
- Build a neat head; whip finish and lacquer.