Overview

The Crafty Shrimp is Brent Bauer's shrimp pattern from the Texas Gulf Coast, part of a family of shrimp flies that grew up on those marshes and flats. Anglers there often call it "Redfish Crack."

It imitates the brown shrimp that live in salty, seagrass-filled estuaries. The profile is large and realistic, yet the fly lands softly, which matters when you are casting close to spooky fish in skinny water. This version has lead eyes, so it sinks faster and rides deeper than the bead chain version, and it is the choice for big bonefish in deeper channels and drop-offs.

How to Fish It

• Tailing redfish: put the fly right on the fish's nose and let it drop. Be ready to set the hook immediately.
• No reaction: start stripping with short, sharp strips to make it flee like a startled shrimp.
• Deeper water: the lead eyes get it down along channel edges, drop-offs and deeper flats where bonefish and permit cruise.
• Strip set: keep the rod low and set with a firm strip, not a rod lift, so you don't pull the fly away from the fish.

Choosing Color and Size

This is the Lead Eyes version in size 4. Pick it when you need the fly to sink quickly, in deeper water or wind and current. On very shallow, calm flats a lighter bead chain shrimp lands even quieter.