Seeking Advice - PNW Colors for Shrimpadillo

[Mike Cline]

The Shrimpadillo is shrimp/crab spoon fly pattern developed by the boys at Sightcastfishing along the Texas Gulf Coast. Originally designed as a shallow water redfish fly, I’ve had success with the Shrimpadillo for Speckled Trout, Redfish, Flounder and Snook along the Central Florida Gulf Coast. The pattern is tied with some specific components available from Sightcastfishing.com.

The advice I am seeking is what would be optimal color combinations of Shrimpadillo components for PNW targets—coho, pinks, SRC etc.? I will be tying the Shrimpadillo as a demonstration fly at a couple of West coast Fly Fishing Expos next Spring and would like to have examples in appropriate PNW colors.

The pattern is as follows:

Hook: Sightcastfishing Spoon Fly Hook #1 or #2

Thread: Mono

Antennae: Crystal Flash or Black Shrimp Antennae

Eyes: Shrimp Eyes (Easy Shrimp Eyes)

Legs: Sightcast Marsh Legs

Carapace: Fox, Squirrel or Coyote Fur

Body: Flat braid

Spoon: Sightcast Spoon Fly Cutouts

Weight: (optional): Small dumbbell or beadchain eyes or lead free wire. Dumbbell eyes at hook bend provides maximum wobble. No weight or wire for moderate wobble. Dumbbell eyes at hook eye for limited wobble.

Body and spoon sealed with UV resin and head cement.

Shrimp eyes, Marsh Legs, Crystal Flash, Spoon Cutouts are all available in a wide variety of colors. What in your opinion would be ideal combinations for PNW targets?

 

[Shad]

I'd fish it in the colors you have on the example for salmon and steelhead. Maybe olive, tan, or pink for cutthroat/etc.?

Looks pretty killer. I think steelhead would eat that thing pretty good on a swing.

 

[Vandelay Industries]

Perhaps something in shrimp peach as that is a pretty good color for SRCs.

 

[Chucker]

In fluorescent pink and pearl it would be a lethal humpy fly.

 

[Phil K]

@Kfish tied some up years ago, and before I beat this one to death on the beach the Searuns found it quite attractive. He tied these up w/o using any prepared shellbacks, and found the process pretty laborious.

 

[Matt B]

Silver and white and silver and gold would be good. Like a wee Dick Nite 50/50.

 

[Shad]

Perhaps something in shrimp peach as that is a pretty good color for SRCs.

Yes, but PEACH. Not that "shrimp pink" color that looks so great to my eye but hasn't caught me much of anything.

Sometimes, I think color makes little difference. Then, I see what sometimes happens when you change up your color by only a shade or two and I get to wondering again.

 

[Vandelay Industries]

Yes, but PEACH. Not that "shrimp pink" color that looks so great to my eye but hasn't caught me much of anything.

Sometimes, I think color makes little difference. Then, I see what sometimes happens when you change up your color by only a shade or two and I get to wondering again.

I've had some success with shrimp pink as well but not with shell pink.

 

[Brute]

Silver and white and silver and gold would be good. Like a wee Dick Nite 50/50.

Silver & Black…Raider Shrimpadillo…