The Magus Shrimp Tube Fly

Step by Step tying of the Magus Shrimp salmon needle tube fly

Below is a step-by-step tying sequence of a variant of the Magus Salmon Fly, which I first used on the River Endrick in 1989, where it accounted for a few salmon and sea trout. Since then, the fly has taken a number of salmon from rivers as varied as the Earn, Ruchill, Teith, Allan, Alness, Borgie and Dee, and probably a good many more. Intended originally as a tenuous representation of the prawn, Parapandulus richardi, as illustrated in "Salmon Fishing" by Hugh Falkus, the Magus has been modified over the years. I have adapted this dressing for tying on a tube, specifically a slim stainless steel needle tube.

The Magus Shrimp Salmon Tube Fly

Step 1 - Place needle tube in needle tube vice and wind a bed of black tying thread about half way along.




 

Step 2 - Tie in three turns of fluorescent cock hackle.




 

Step 3 - Tie in a bunch of black squirrel hair plus a few strands of flashy material to taste. I have used pearl Krystal Flash and pink Maraglit.




 

Step 4 - Form a short body of black thread and rib with oval silver tinsel.




 

Step 5 - Tie in a wing of black squirrel and a short post of fluorescent floss over (optional).

Step 6 - Tie in a flourescent pink hackle.

Step 5 - Tie in a black hackle in front of the pink, form a neat head and finish with two or three coats of Cellire No. 1 varnish.

The Magus Shrimp Tube Fly

For more information on Salmon, Trout and Sea Trout Flies, see Trout and Salmon Flies