sexyloops fly tying school - gammarus

sexyloops fly tying school - gammarus

t.z. | Friday, 18 November 2016

James´s last weeks article about shrimp reminded me that we haven´t covered one of the most essential nymphs yet. So I quickly made a little tying instruction for you guys about a simple but effective freshwater shrimp - or "gammarus" in latin. I´m using very similar techniques to the seatrout flies we covered the last few instalments of the SFTS.

The main difference though is the use of plastic material for the back. I am quite fond of the Virtual Nymph Flexybody for such uses. The martial comes in myriad of colours too. However, feel free to use any other foil or latex. The god old medical gloves work very well too.

Gammarus feed on debris, so they are often found where there are leaves an other organic material decomposing in the water. That´s can be a little helper to find trout feeding places. Look for the vegetation and the leaves in the water. These often pile up in back eddies and such. From there the shrimp are often dislogged and washed downstream with the current. Drop you fly into this food-stream and expect to be amazed. Try various forms of presentation. The little buggers are good swimmers and dart abouts quite actively when running for food and cover.

They come in very different sizes too. Anything from 18 to 10 works very well. The example is tied on a Partridge-of-Redditch CZ size 10. Materials needed: Shrimp hook (but you can also use a regular straight hook), Dyneema or any other very strong thread for the second ribbing, copper wire, seals fur (I like natural colour for that fly - it gives this "see through effect I like"), Virtual Nymph Products Flexibody, Partridge feather (wood duck works too).

Tools needed - vise, bobbinholder, scissors, needle (to split the thread), dubbing brush. I recently got myself a Vosseler Xpert Bindetool 3-in-1 which is half-stitch tool, a dubbing needle and a small steel brush. Brilliant. I like such useful gadgets.

 



tz-alpyke-BW_250
picture by Al Pyke 

Thomas Züllich, or - “t.z.” as most call him - is a German flyfisher & flytier living in Norway. His flydressing is based on old traditions as well as very modern and innovative methods of creating flies. You can book Thomas for guided trips, flytying classes and presentations. He regularly gives speeches and demonstrations at fly fishing fairs. Thomas is member of the ProTeam at Partridge of Redditch as well as Regal Vises. 

www.tzflyfishing.no

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