The Taylors shrimp is one of the first flies I learned how to tie. It is very effective especially in water there scud and fresh water shrimp can be found. I also know a fisherman who ties this pattern on larger hooks for steel head and Salmon on the Columbia River and in fishing ocean bays. As the creator is Marv Taylor I give all the credit to him and this past month I got the story on how he developed the pattern. Marv was fishing a tex favorite on Horsethief Reservoir for a couple of days. he tried other patterns but found the tex to be the most effective. After some more research Marv discovered the fish where taking the Tex favorite as a scud. SO he tied this up with some materials he had with him and it worked even better than the Tex. You will notice that it is tied on a curved hook but as Marv explains you need some on curved to simulate swimming scud and some on straight hooks to show the scud in a resting state. Fish it Deep!!!! that where the scud hang out. This fly is easy to tie in fact of you can tie a Woolly Bugger you can tie the Taylors Shrimp. Colors: yellow and black variegated is best but I have found an olive and black chenille with a sparkle that I think works even better. Don't tell Marv! Also pale light yellow or light pink, natural Orange and very light tan and even a light off white or cream.
Hook: Regular shank (at rest) 8 - 14, weighted with .020 fuse wire; Standard 1X long (swimming) 8 - 14, also weighted.
Thread: Light olive, prewaxed 6/0.
Tail: Light-olive saddle hackle, tied on by the butt, half way down the bend.
Body: Dark-olive and gold (Dark-olive and yellow will work) variegated chenille, size small (Danvilles 0 size) tied halfway down the bend, and wrapped forward.
Legs: Light-olive saddle hackle, tied on at the bend and wrapped forward over the chenille, and trimmed on the top and on the sides.
HEAD: Light olive.
