Mantis shrimp

[flatliner92]

Did a bit of searching and wasn't able to come up with any results regarding mantis shrimp patterns/use for bass up here in the northeast(just bonefish type stuff) .any body have any patterns they tie/fish for stripers? Here is something I was playing around with, ep brush and marabou on an articulated shank.thoughts/criticism/input anyone? Much appreciated http://www.stripersonline.com/content/type/61/id/1737173/width/1000/height/1000]

[saltyh2ofly]

That is a great fly, I've found them in the stomachs of weakfish....big weakfish. A SBS would be very helpful if you have time....thanks for sharing your fly it's a killer.

[M. saxatilis]

My only concern with designing/tying articulated flies like this is how prone to fouling the design is. It would seem to me, there is a lot of movement in that rear articulation for it to swing up and catch the tippet either during the cast, or in the water.

 

Regardless, I think that is a great looking mimic you put together and I would love to see more like em.

 

Kevin

[flatliner92]

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltyh2ofly 

That is a great fly, I've found them in the stomachs of weakfish....big weakfish. A SBS would be very helpful if you have time....thanks for sharing your fly it's a killer.

thank you im all out of brushes so i cant do a photo sbs, but i can deffinately break it down for you.

1) tie in eyes(melted mono,epoxy eyes etc) at bend(hook used was a gammy sp113h size 1)

2)tie in small clump of wispy olive brown marabo about a shank length in front of eyes and attach brown/olive ep brush

3)palmer folward to eye,tie off and whip finnish

4)attach the articulated shank to trailing hook(head/carapace/thorax)

5)tie in weighted eyes clouser style (hookpointup+shank)

6)tie in more ep brush,wrap forward to shank eye,tie off,brush the fibers out and trim the top flat

7)coat the top with acrylic resin or epoxy(i used ccg thin, but i think epoxy would work into the fibers and produce a better result,think ultrashrimp)

8)brush out head section and lay the fibers flat(bottom of the shank/top of fly),apply liquid fusion or loon softhead.when halfway cured squeeze shell to shape

9)trim/brush remaining fibers to liking (i prefer a buggier look on shrimp type stuff)

[flatliner92]

that crossed my mind as well,if fouling becomes an issue ill just switch to a shorter shank hook and a longer articulated shank like the predator/gamechanger size. (this was a senyo intruder shank)

[rel1]

flatliner92: Nice looking fly. I too have fond mantis shrimp in the stomachs of stripers here in the NE, and I have also seen them free swimming when I dislodged them while quahoging. They swim head first using their tails like a paddle to move through the water like a lobster. I have tried several times to emulate them but so far I've had little luck.

Ron

[Capt.Castafly]

Love that pattern.

 

Mantis Shrimp just seems to fly under the radar with most salt water fly fishermen. Seriously, they don't know the importance of this benthic creature in the food chain.

But it's probably one of the most under rated of bait supply and favorite foods of the striper when they are in that bottom feeding mood.

[KidDkivahh]

 

[belford perry]

That is a great fly, I've found them in the stomachs of weakfish....big weakfish. A SBS would be very helpful if you have time....thanks for sharing your fly it's a killer.

A lot of peeps that fish here in the NE of the USA have emphasized the fact that these nasty buggers are an important part of a fish's diet. Flatliner- that's a nice pattern. You've given me some new ideas on how I can try and imitate. Here's a pic to give an example of their coloration.

[flatliner92]

Love that pattern.

 

Mantis Shrimp just seems to fly under the radar with most salt water fly fishermen. Seriously, they don't know the importance of this benthic creature in the food chain.

But it's probably one of the most under rated of bait supply and favorite foods of the striper when they are in that bottom feeding mood.

I plan to fish this in a harbor with mostly mudflats. Ron,I also find a decent amount of mantis while digging steamers, and my first few bass of the season last year had these things crammed in their gullet. little guy, but stuffed with shrimp none the less