Put and Take Sverige
Gammarus (shrimp fly)
When rainbow trout have been in the water a while and started eating natural food, it is often small crustaceans they live on, and then a Gammarus can make a real difference. The fly imitates a freshwater shrimp, a small scud that lives in quantity among vegetation and stone in many put-and-take waters. Precisely because it matches real staple food, it is a reliable imitative fly when loud patterns no longer take.
A staple food the fish recognise
Freshwater shrimp (Gammarus) are small, curved crustaceans that swim in bursts and live near the bottom and in vegetation. They make up a large part of rainbow trout’s natural diet in waters with plenty of plant growth, and the fish quickly learn to recognise their shape and movement. A well-tied shrimp fly with a curved body, a clear back and small legs captures exactly that silhouette, and can be outstanding when the fish have become selective and refuse anything that looks unnatural.
Colour and size
Natural tones are the starting point: olive, brown and grey-green match real freshwater shrimp and work best in clear water. Size 10 to 14 covers most situations. A variant with a touch of pink or orange can resemble a gravid or dead shrimp and give an extra trigger point, especially on slightly coloured days. Keep a natural one and one with a small colour detail.
How you fish it
Fish Gammarus slowly and near the bottom or along reed edges and stony bottoms where the crustaceans hold. Imitate the shrimp’s bursty swimming by creeping the fly forward in small, short strips with pauses, and let it sink between strips. An alternative is to hang it almost still under a fly indicator at the right depth. The key is not to fish it too fast, because a real freshwater shrimp moves in short darts, not in long even pulls.
An imitative fly you can trust
Gammarus complements the searching flies by offering natural food when the fish have become fussy. It is the fly-side counterpart to shrimp as bait on the bait rod. The basics of slow presentation it shares with nymph fishing, and more choices by species you find in flies for rainbow trout.
FAQ
What does a Gammarus fly imitate?
A freshwater shrimp (Gammarus), a small scud that lives among vegetation and stone. It is a staple food for rainbow trout in many waters, so a believable shrimp imitation can be very effective on fish that have been in a while.
How do I fish the shrimp fly?
Slowly and near the bottom or along reed edges where the crustaceans live. Creep it forward in small, short strips that resemble the shrimp’s bursty swimming, or hang it almost still under an indicator.
Which colour should I choose?
Natural tones such as olive, brown and grey-green match real freshwater shrimp best and suit clear water. A variant with a touch of pink or orange can resemble a gravid or dead shrimp and give extra trigger.