Participating in a shrimp/crab/invertabrate swap on another forum I stumbled across an interesting concept using zonker strips for the shellback/carapace on salty flies. Here's a shrimpy thing I put together, although with a little variation in colour, legs, antenna it makes an interesting crab or slater imitation.

Hook: Standard saltwater, size 4.
Thread: Danvilles flat-waxed, colour to match.
Weight: Lead dumbells
Antenna/Mouth parts: Crinkle flash.
Eyes: Melted mono.
Body: Fritz.
Shell/Carapace: Rabbit Zonker strip.


Step 1: Catch in thread at start of bend and tie in 2 strands of crinkle flash for antenna.



Step 2: Tie in burnt mono eyes on either side of shank.



Step 3: Tie in 6-8 strands of crinkle flash similar length to eyes for the mouth parts.



Step 4: Catch in fritz at bend of hook and wind thread along shank. Tie in a set of dumbells near hook eye, leaving sufficient room to finish head.



Step 5: Wind fritz forwards to behind dumbells and secure. Trim off excess.



Step 6: Invert hook. Take a piece of zonker strip and impale on hook point and slide round hook bend. Ensure the hair is lying the right way!



Step 7: Stretch Zonker strip along hook shank and secure at hook eye. Trim excess, shape head and varnish.



The finished fly:

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Burnt mono ends, now there's a simple new one for me, good killer fly too.
cheers,
Ken