The Needle Fly was devised primarily as a sea
trout lure, an alternative to the tube fly and Waddington for
late night sea trout fishing. However, even in its simplest
form, it has proved effective also for salmon. The needle can,
of course, be dressed in any way which fashion or fancy may
dictate. The photographs below illustrate the dressing of a
simple shrimp pattern, consisting of little more than a hackle
and some badger hair, to produce the Needle Shrimp. Colours can
be varied and other hair, such as bucktail or squirrel, may be
substituted for the badger.How to tie the Needle Shrimp
Materials
A needle (I have used a size 9 long darner)
Red and black tying thread size 8/0 or 6/0
Natural badger hair
Four strands of
Crystal hair
Cock hackle dyed yellow
Click on the images below to enlarge
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Step 1
Tie a "stop" about 2mm long by winding black tying thread on
to the needle about one centimetre from the needle point.
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Step 2
Lay a short bed of tying thread at the head of the needle. |
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Step 3
Tie in a loop of heavy nylon monofilament. I have used thirty
pound B.S. |
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Step 4
Trim the ends of the nylon monofilament, cover with thread
and apply a drop of varnish. |
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Step 5
Tie in a bunch of hair to reach slightly beyond the tip of
the needle. |
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Step 6
Trim the butt ends of the hair and tie in securely. |
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Step 7
Tie in a hackle. |
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Step 8
Wind three or four turns of hackle. |
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Step 9 Trim the hackle and
wind a few turns of thread through the wound hackle to secure
it. |
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Step 10
Pull the hackle back to the desired angle and finish the head
with two coats of varnish. |
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Step 11
The finished Needle Shrimp.
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Step 12 The Needle Shrimp
attached to a big mouth double hook with a sleeve of PVC over
the shank to secure the needle point. |
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| For more information on the needle
fly and how to use it, see
Fishing Articles |
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