How to Tie the James' Sand Prawn Fly Pattern

Learn how to tie the James' Sand Prawn fly pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here.

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Designed for fishing the tough flats of Seychelles, James' Sand Prawn will catch anything from fast bonefish to shy permit. With a keeling weight and weedguard, this fly gets down while preventing snags. Tie it in any color or size to match those around you, you can rely on this fly whether you're in a tropical flat, a muddy tidal river in the northeast, or a dock light in Florida.

Recipe

• Hook: Gamakatsu SL 311H Hook (size: 4)
• Thread: UNI-Mono (size: .004")
• Rostrum: Just Add H20 Polar Fibre (color: shrimp)
• Body: Just Add H20 Polar Fibre (color: shrimp)
• Hot Spot: Loon UV Colored Fly Finish (color: orange)
• Telson: Just Add H20 Polar Fibre (color: shrimp)
• Eyes: Enrico Puglisi Crab and Shrimp Eyes (color: amber; size: medium)
• Legs: Chicone's Barred Crusher Legs (color: tan barred/white; size: regular)
• Weedguard and keel: 20lb Fluorocarbon
• Keel weight: Hareline Plummeting Tungsten Beads (color: orange; size: 3.3mm

Step One

Begin the pattern by establishing a thread base from below the hook's eye to the bend.

Step Two

Pinch-wrap a clump of Polar Fibre on top of the hook shank. Before moving on, clip the outward-facing material, then set it aside for the next step.

Step Three

Gently shred a small piece of the Polar Fibre previously set aside until it becomes the consistency of dubbing. Apply it to the thread, then make a few overlapping wraps at the shank's bend.

Step Four

Flatten the EP Crab and Shrimp Eyes' mono section to make them easier to tie on.

Step Five

Tie the mono eyes on both sides of the shank with the eyes positioned right past the curve and the mono section running nearly the length of the shank.

Step Six

Start the keeling weight section by securing five inches of the mono-material on the shank near the eyes, pulling the material rearward, then making additional wraps for added security.

Step Seven

Next, we're working with Chicone's Barred Crusher Legs for the Sand Prawn's rear legs. Pinch-wrap two inches of material near the weed guard, pull the legs rearward and tie down. Repeat this step with an additional material section in front of the first set of legs.

Step Eight

Create a hotspot by adding a small amount of orange fly finish in front of the legs on both sides of the shank, then cure with the UV light before moving on.

Step Nine

We're using the shredded Polar Fibre again to build up the body. Apply the fibers to the thread and make overlapping wraps from the legs to just behind the hook's eye. Be sure to pull the legs out of the way to avoid getting trapped.

Step Ten

Finish the keeling weight by pulling the two mono pieces forward, inserting the orange tungsten beads on the material, then tying them down next to the hook's eye.

Step Eleven

We are using Polar Fibre for the tail as well. Pinch-wrap a small clump of material directly on the eye and make several securing wraps. Clip the excess material facing the hook point.

Step Twelve

James' Sand Prawn is ready to hit the water after completing a whip finish.