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Bonefish

Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp – Tying Instructions

How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Get shrimpy. Photos: Kyle Shea.

In less than a month, we kick off our bonefishing season at Andros South. So, today we present you with detailed instructions on how to tie one of our favorite bonefish flies, Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp.

Enjoy!

Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp – Tying Instructions

Materials:

  • Hook: Tiemco 811s – Sizes 2-6.
  • Thread: UTC 140 – Shell Pink.
  • Lead Eyes: Lead, Brass, or Bead Chain Eyes – Silver.
  • Egg Sac: Glo Bugs Yarn – Steelhead Orange.
  • Tail: Craft Fur – Sand.
  • Eyes: Mono Eyes – Black.
  • Antennae: Krystal Flash – Black.
  • Legs: Silli Legs – Pumpkin/Black.
  • Body: Diamond Braid – Pearl.
  • Wing: Rabbit – Tan.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 1: Secure thread at the eye of the hook. Tie in brass eyes using figure eight wraps of thread. Lead or bead chain eyes could be used as well, depending on the depth you’re fishing.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 2: Catch in a small length of orange Glo Bugs Yarn, double over, and cover with thread wraps to just shy of the hook point. Trim the Glo Bugs Yarn so that it extends just past the hook bend to create an egg sac.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 3: Catch in a small clump of craft fur on top of the egg sac extending approximately 1.5 times the length of the hook shank.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 4: Tie in mono eyes on each side of the shank so they extend past the egg sac.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 5: Catch in a strand of black Krystal Flash as antennae, and double over so that each strand extends on opposite sides of the shank. The Krystal Flash should extend well past the craft fur tail as shown above.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 6: Tie in a pair of rubber legs on each side of the shank (4 legs total). Once again, we did this by doubling over a single strand on each side.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 7: Catch in a length of pearl Diamond Braid. Wrap forward in touching turns and tie off at mid shank but DO NOT TRIM. Make sure the excess extends over the top of the fly as seen above.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 8: Turn the fly over in the vise and catch in a small clump of tan rabbit fur (trimmed from a zonker strip) at the front of the Diamond Braid. Lay down clean base of thread wraps all the way to the brass eyes.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 9: Catch in a second clump of rabbit just behind the brass eyes and clean up any errant fibers with thread wraps.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 10: Advance thread to just in front of brass eyes and catch in a third clump of rabbit fur.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 11: Turn the fly back over in the vice. Pull the excess strand of Diamond Braid tight over the top of the brass eyes and tie down just in front of the eyes.
How to Tie Peterson's Spawning Shrimp Fly for Bonefish.
Step 12: Build a clean head, whip finish, and cement!

More on Bonefish Flies

Don’t Fish This Fly

Fly Fishing for Bonefish Tips
Heartbreaker. Photo: Kyle Shea.

No, we’re not talking about a Gotcha, they work great on South Andros! We’re talking about that subtle brownish discoloration at the back of the fly. That’s a sign of rust, and that’s a bad thing.

While stainless hooks certainly hold up better in saltwater, they are not rust proof. Rinsing off your flies with freshwater after a day on the flats is always a great idea, but over time saltwater can cause the hook to rust under the tight thread wraps of the fly (where a quick rinse doesn’t quite reach). We’ve ‘heard’ of many double digit bonefish lost due to a broken hook, only to find the slightest discoloration at the break point.

So, before tying your next fly, take the time to look it over and avoid the heartbreak.

More Gear Related Tips

Bonefish Flies – Our Favorites for South Andros (Updated)

Flies for Bonefish
Good choice. Photo: Peter Viau.

It’s been a while since we’ve ran a comprehensive list of our favorite bonefish flies for South Andros. While we still use many of the same patterns, we’ve developed a few more favorites for our flats, and today we tell you about those favorites.

Our fishery is pretty unique when compared to other bonefishing locations. For whatever reason, our bonefish really like flies that are an odd combination of big and light, which is not often the case in other areas of the world.

With that said, our bonefish also receive very little fishing pressure, so many other flies are likely to catch fish. It’s a creative fly tyer’s paradise! Nonetheless, here are some of our favorites and why.

  • Tan Gotcha. It’s no secret that bonefish love a standard tan and pearl Gotcha. The Gotcha has probably caught more bonefish around the world than any other fly pattern, and South Andros is no exception. We fish a lot of whitish/tan sandy flats, so tan is our go to color. As mentioned above, our fish tend to like flies that are big and light, so we lean toward a size 2 hook that is tied with bead chain, not lead eyes.

    Tan gotcha bonefish fly
    The Tan Gotcha. Photo: Kyle Shea.
  • Rubber Legged Gotcha. Improving upon the ever-productive tan gotcha, we’ve found adding some hot-tipped rubber legs makes for a killer fly on South Andros. Our fish tend to really like rubber legs, as well as subtle hints of orange, and we’ve found this to be a great fly for aggressive or schooling bonefish. Hit the link for tying instructions!

    Rubber Legged Gotcha Bonefish Fly
    The Rubber Legged Gotcha. Photo: Kyle Shea.
  • Shea’s Bonefish Buttah. Developed by our own Kyle Shea specifically for our flats on South Andros, the Bonefish Buttah incorporates just about everything we like in our bonefish flies – Large profile, hints of orange, rubber legs, and the like. It takes on a really shrimpy appearance in the water and works well in just about all conditions. For full fly tying instructions on the Bonefish Buttah, click here!

    Shea's Bonefish Buttah fly pattern for Bonefish.
    Shea’s Bonefish Buttah. Photo: Solitude Fly Company.
  • Veverka’s Mantis Shrimp. We’ve been fishing Bob Veverka’s Mantis Shrimp for years on South Andros with great success. The rubber legs provide great movement to entice aggressive fish, yet the fly is subtle enough to catch even the spookiest bonefish. We fish the Mantis Shrimp in sizes 2-4 depending on water depth. A great all around bonefish fly.

    Veverka's mantis shrimp bonefish fly
    Veverka’s Mantis Shrimp. Photo: Kyle Shea.
  • Spawning Mantis Shrimp. We’ve grown really fond of this variation of the Veverka’s Mantis Shrimp. It’s like a Mantis Shrimp on steroids and it’s becoming our first choice when we reach into our box. For tying instructions, click here!

    Spawning Mantis Shrimp Fly
    The Spawning Mantis Shrimp. Photo: Kyle Shea.
  • Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp. The Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp provides some of the best action out of any bonefish fly we’ve fished. With long rubber legs, a large profile, and a bright orange spawning sac, it’s no surprise why it works so well on South Andros. Because it incorporates a lot of materials, it’s also traditionally tied with lead eyes making for a great option when fishing deeper water. Sizes 2-4 seem to work best.

    Peterson's spawning shrimp bonefish fly
    Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp. Photo: Orvis.
  • Bonefish Junk. With bonefish, barracuda, sharks, and many other predators roaming the flats, not much survives if it doesn’t blend in really well. Therefore, when fishing over turtle grass or other vegetation, we like to have a fly with a ‘mottled’ look that better imitates what a shrimp might look like in such an environment. The Bonefish Junk (dark) does a good job at this, and when paired up with rubber legs, makes for a killer fly anywhere on South Andros. Once again, size 2 is our choice here.

    bonefish junk fly
    Bonefish Junk. Photo: Umpqua Feather Merchants.
  • Cathy’s Fleeing Crab. You’ve probably noticed that most of our favorite flies are ‘shrimpy.’ Well, bonefish eat crabs too, especially big bonefish, so we like to have a few crab patterns on us at all times. While most of the time we like light flies for the shallow flats on South Andros, there are occasions where a heavier fly can be advantageous such as windy days or deeper water (say, 3 feet deep). This fly incorporates lead eyes for a little extra weight and we like it in sizes 2-4. Plus, you never know when a rogue permit might come along, and a crab fly is a great option.

    Cathy's fleeing crab fly
    Cathy’s fleeing crab. Photo: Umpqua Feather Merchants.
  • Umpqua Tandem ‘Cuda Fly. We know, it’s not a bonefish fly, but most of our guests like to take a shot or two at a barracuda in between bonefish. The Umpqua Tandem ‘Cuda fly is one of the only commercial ‘cuda flies we’re aware of and we’ve seen plenty of barracuda taken on them!

    Umpqua Cuda Fly
    Umpqua’s Tandem ‘Cuda Fly. Photo: Umpqua Feather Merchants.

More on Flies for South Andros

The Rubber Legged Gotcha – Tying Instructions

How to Tie the Rubber Legged Gotcha Bonefish Fly
The Rubber Legged Gotcha. Photos: Kyle Shea.

It’s no secret that the Gotcha is one of the greatest bonefish flies of all time. We’d go out on a whim and say it has probably caught more bonefish than any other fly pattern in the world, and we use a lot of them.

However, our bonefish on South Andros really seem to have a fetish for rubber legs. So, naturally one of our go-to bonefish flies combines the two! We call it the Rubber Legged Gotcha for obvious reasons, and its a great fly to have in your box on your next trip to South Andros.

Here’s the step by step to help get you get stocked up.

Tying the Rubber Legged Gotcha

Materials:

  • Hook: Tiemco 811S – sz. 2-6
  • Thread: 6/0 Uni Thread – Fire Orange
  • Tail: Pearl Mylar Chord – sz. Small
  • Body: Pearl Sparkle Braid
  • Wing: Tan Craft Fur
  • Legs: Clear/Fire Orange Tipped Sili Legs
  • Eyes: Medium Silver Bead Chain Eyes
How to Tie the Rubber Legged Gotcha Bonefish Fly
Step 1: Secure thread just behind the eye of the hook.
How to Tie the Rubber Legged Gotcha Bonefish Fly
Step 2: Catch in bead chain eyes using figure eight wraps. Advance thread to just in front of the barb.
How to Tie the Rubber Legged Gotcha Bonefish Fly
Step 3: Tie in a tail of Small Mylar Cord, roughly a hook shank in length. Tease out Mylar fibers.
How to Tie the Rubber Legged Gotcha Bonefish Fly
Step 4: Catch in a strand of Pearl Sparkle Braid and wrap forward to create a body. Cover thread wraps above and below eyes with figure eight wraps of Sparkle Braid before tying off in front of bead chain eyes.
How to Tie the Rubber Legged Gotcha Bonefish Fly
Step 5: Tie in a wing of Tan Craft Fur, roughly 1.5 to 2 times the length of the hook shank.
How to Tie the Rubber Legged Gotcha Bonefish Fly
Step 6: Tie in four Orange Tipped Silli Legs extending just past the wing. Trim legs so that 1/4 to a 1/2 inch of orange remains on the end of each leg. When tying in rubber legs, be sure to lay down plenty of loose thread wraps before increasing pressure to avoid cutting the legs at the tie in point.
How to Tie the Rubber Legged Gotcha Bonefish Fly
Step 7: Build a nice head, whip finish, and get fishing!

More on Bonefish Flies

The Spawning Mantis Shrimp

The Spawning Mantis Shrimp.. Photo: Kyle Shea.
The Spawning Mantis Shrimp.. Photo: Kyle Shea.

A great thing about our fishery at Andros South is that the bonefish aren’t overly picky. It’s a great place to get creative with your flies.. A true fly tyer’s paradise! After all, if its the right size, and some shade of tan, odds are there’s a fish out there that will eat it!

With that said, like any fishery, we have our favorite patterns.. Those which don’t seem to be rejected quite as much. One of our favorite patterns of all time is the Spawning Mantis Shrimp, a variation of Bob Veverkas’ Mantis Shrimp, although we tie it slightly different.

The Spawning Mantis Shrimp is one the most productive fly patterns here throughout the entire season and is often our first choice out of the box. Why do the bonefish love it so much? We’re not sure. We don’t speak fish, otherwise we’d ask.. But here’s why we think it works so well.

  • It’s shrimpy. This one goes without saying. One look at the Spawning Mantis and it’s easy to see the resemblance of an actual shrimp. That can’t hurt when fishing for a fish that searches out shrimp all day long.
  • It’s not overly flashy. Many commercial bonefish flies today are loaded with krystal flash, flashabou, sparkle braid, and all kinds of other ‘flashy’ materials. Flash certainly has its place, however we’ve found that sometimes too much flash can spook weary bonefish, particularly on bright calm days. The rubber legs provide enough ‘sizzle’ to grab the fish’s attention, but not so much as to put them down when they’re nervous.
  • It has a touch of orange. For some reason, our bonefish seem to love subtle spots of orange incorporated into the fly. We’re not exactly sure why, they just do!
  • It’s mostly tan. With sharks, barracuda, bonefish, and the many other marine predators cruising our flats, not much survives unless it blends in really well. The majority of our flats are comprised of a white or tannish sandy bottom, so a tan fly best imitates the natural prey, and that’s a good thing.
  • It has bead-chain eyes. Our flats are pretty shallow. And, we have the advantage of running to the favorable tide all the time. Therefore, we like to tie our flies with light bead chain eyes as opposed to heavy dumbbell eyes. Bead chain eyes provide enough weight to get the fly down, but not so much to make a ruckus on the surface of the water and spook fish.
  • The beadchain eyes are black. Look at most shrimp or crabs around our neck of the woods and usually the most noticeable feature are it’s black beady eyes. On a white sandy bottom, such dark spots stand out quite a bit, so we tie our Spawning Mantis Shrimps with black bead chain eyes to imitate this. The original pattern calls for silver eyes, but we’ve found black to work really well. Plus it saves us the step on tying on fancy mono eyes.

Taking a trip to Andros South? Make sure to bring along a few Spawning Mantis Shrimp! Want to take a trip to Andros South? Drop us a line and make it happen!

More on Bonefish Flies