John Smith's Epoxy Shrimp

For the last two seasons I have had the privilege to fish one of the premier chalk streams.  My host on these occasions is a dedicated, and profusely efficient, grayling angler.

My hosts enthusiasm for the species has been contagious and I have spent many hours just observing their feeding activity, or lack of it, and often unpredictable nature.  Many time I have observed them dart forward, rolling onto their side, and take what I believed to be shrimp (Gammarus sp.) from the bed of the river.  Conversation with my host confirmed my belief that this was typical shrimp feeding activity.

In the clear water of the chalk streams the depth at which the grayling are located can be very deceptive, generally being much deeper than you may imagine.  Getting an imitation to the correct depth was not always easy and I therefore set my mind in action to create a fast sinking shrimp dressing to overcome the depth and speed of the current.  After much observation, and experience, I am beginning to form the opinion that grayling soon become very wary of patterns with gold heads.  Passing a gold bead pattern through a pod of grayling may create an interest for the first two or three passes but after that their interest soon diminishes.

The shrimp pattern that resulted from my deliberations incorporates a lead under body and, to give a smooth finish to reduce surface tension, a clear epoxy resin back.

Notes:

The body is constructed using the simple technique known as the Overhand or Knot Weave.  The colour of the upper body can be varied by using one each of different colour strands of embroidery thread.  The most productive colour has been achieved by blending one each of Light Olive (279) and Fawn (376) in conjunction with orange tying thread and Twinkle.

For any further information or sample of pattern please contact John Smith on 01483 476938