Partridge of Redditch
 

Golden Prawn
Text and photos by Barry Ord Clarke

This is the first pattern that I have designed for saltwater sea trout on a double hook. The new Salar double hooks from Partridge gave me such inspiration that I just had to tie flies on them. I first tied this pattern in early November 2001 and have already taken 12 sea trout on three fishing trips with it. Prawns are on the sea trout's menu the whole year round and are found in great numbers all over Northern Europe's coast line. All sea trout fishermen should have at least 2 or 3 good prawn patterns in their fly box. In my experience, the best colours for prawn patterns are Red, Pink, White and Orange. Some times it can be rewarding to tie some very small prawn flies in sizes 10-12-14.
 

The dressing

Hook: Partridge Salar double Gold, Silver or Black # 1
Thread: Clear Mono
Beard: Calf tail
Feelers: 2 strands of crystal hair
Body/legs: Gold medium Mylar tube
Eyes: Gold bead chain
 
  THE TYING TECHNIQUE:
 


 
Step 1:
Run tying thread along the hook shank so that it hangs just in front of the hook points.
 		  
 

 


  

 


Step 2:
Cut a length of calf tail, this should extend about the same length as the body of the prawn. Tie this in on top of, and along the hook shank.
 

 

 

Step 3:
Take 2 strands of gold crystal hair and tie in as shown on either side of the beard. These should extend a little further than the calf tail.

  

 
 

 

  

 

 

Step 4:
You now need a 10cm length of Mylar tube. Remove the string core from the tube so that it is hollow, and thread this over the hook shank. Fray the end of the tube so as to form a skirt around the base of the beard. Tie this in.
 

 

 

Step 5:
Cut a two-bead section from your bead chain and tie these well in on top of the whippings of the Mylar tube. Whip finish and remove tying thread.

  
 

 

  

 

Step 6:
Pull the Mylar tube tight over the body of the prawn and re-attach your tying thread 2-3mm behind the hook eye. This should trap the Mylar, forming a nice even body. Use a dubbing needle and take care to fully open up the fibres of the Mylar tube.
 

 

Step 7:
Using your left hand, pull all the fibres of the Mylar tube back over the fly and make a few turns of tying thread to hold these in position.

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

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Step 8:
Now with a pair of small scissors, carefully cut the fibres of Mylar from around the top of the prawn's body as shown. Make sure that you leave enough on the sides and under the body to form the legs. The legs should be just long enough to cover the hook points.
 

 

Step 9:
Whip finish and apply a drop of clear varnish or epoxy on the whippings at both the head and tail of the fly.

  
 

 

  

 

 

 

Step 10:
The completed fly!

 
 

 

 

 

  
 

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Partridge of Redditch Limited

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