Fly Tying Focus: Edd Ford's Clyde Estuary Shrimp | Autumn Open Weekend 2026 https://ift.tt/FGl4jPQ
Edd Ford's completed Clyde Estuary Shrimp fly

Fly Tying Focus: Edd Ford's Clyde Estuary Shrimp

Our Fly Tying Focus series returns in the run up to our Autumn Open Weekend 2026, and we are starting with a pattern that has been designed for fishing close to home but will be effective just about anywhere.

Edd Ford, a member of the Veniard Pro Team, has put together this Clyde Estuary Shrimp for Sea Trout, Pollack and anything else willing to chase a convincing mouthful on the rising tide. It is a full, mobile pattern with the warm ginger and shrimp shades you would expect to find among the fishes natural food in the estuary.

Edd fishes it from the Erskine Bridge down through Langbank and Port Glasgow to Inverkip. That gives the fly a distinctly local purpose, but its mixture of streamer fur, translucent eyes and rough dubbing should make it equally useful wherever fish are feeding on prawns and shrimps around the coast.

The pattern can also be adapted easily. Edd rates Veniard Stickle Dub as one of the best dubbings for this style of fly, and changing its colours gives you plenty of scope to match different water conditions and prey.

Materials Used


Hook: Size 2 Veniard Osprey VH153 Saltwater Hook
Thread: Veniard Dyneema 220D in white
Tail and shellback: Streamer Fur in Grizzly Brown and Brown
Body: Veniard Stickle Dub in River Shrimp and Ginger
Eyes: Medium Easy Shrimp Eyes in Transparent Brown
Rib: Veniard French Gold Wire No. 26 (medium), doubled and twisted

How to Tie the Clyde Estuary Shrimp

Step 1: Build the thread base

Secure the hook in the vice and lay down a bed of white thread along the shank to the bend. Build a small bump of thread at the rear. This acts as a stop and helps keep the first fibres in position.

A white thread base laid along the Clyde Estuary Shrimp hook

Step 2: Add the streamer fur

Take a small pinch of brown and grizzly streamer fur and tie it on top of the hook. Repeat underneath, then roll the material around the shank so it covers the hook evenly. Keep the fibres long and mobile.

Brown and grizzly streamer fur tied around the hook

Step 3: Position the shrimp eyes

Tie the Easy Shrimp Eyes securely on top of the hook. Tidy the remaining streamer fur and return the tying thread to the bend. Add another small pinch of brown streamer fur over the top of the eyes to continue the natural profile.

Transparent brown shrimp eyes tied into position Brown streamer fur secured over the shrimp eyes

Step 4: Prepare the rib

Take two strands of No. 26 French Gold Wire and twist them tightly together to create a rope style rib. Secure the twisted wire on the underside of the hook and leave it ready to counter rib the body.

Twisted French Gold Wire secured beneath the hook

Step 5: Dub the body

Split the tying thread and place the River Shrimp Stickle Dub into it, working with approximately 50mm at a time. Spin the thread to trap the dubbing securely, then wind it forward to begin building the body. Repeat this process two or three times.

River Shrimp Stickle Dub placed into split thread The first section of the dubbed shrimp body River Shrimp dubbing built forward along the hook

Step 6: Finish with ginger dubbing

For the final section, switch to Ginger Stickle Dub and carry it down towards the eye. Keep the body full without crowding the hook eye, as you still need room to secure the rib and complete the fly.

Ginger Stickle Dub prepared for the front of the body The ginger dubbing wound towards the hook eye

Step 7: Rib and brush out

Counter rib the body with the twisted gold wire. This strengthens the dubbing while adding subtle segmentation and flash. Secure the wire, whip finish, then use a Velcro dubbing brush to work the body out and back towards the eyes. Brush firmly enough to free the fibres and create a tapered, lively shrimp profile.

The finished Clyde Estuary Shrimp brushed into a tapered profile

Fishing the Clyde Estuary Shrimp

This is a pattern intended to be fished, not kept pristine in the box. The brushed Stickle Dub gives it a rough, translucent body, while the long streamer fur moves with very little encouragement. The prominent eyes complete the suggestion of a fleeing shrimp without making the dressing overly complicated.

Edd recommends fishing it on a rising tide in Estuary waters where Sea trout and Pollack are the main targets, although the profile has plenty of potential anywhere predatory fish are working brackish estuary margins, rocky shores or harbour water.

Come along to Fly Tyers' Row at the Autumn Open Weekend in our Glasgow Angling Centre store to see Edd at the vice, ask him about the pattern and pick up a few ideas for adapting it to your own saltwater fishing.



GAC Autumn Open Weekend 2026

Friday 25th to Sunday 27th September 2026

Glasgow Angling Centre
Unit 1, The Point Retail Park
29 Saracen Street, Glasgow, G22 5HT

Friday: 9:00am to 5:30pm
Saturday: 9:00am to 5:30pm
Sunday: 9:00am to 5:00pm

Entry and parking are free there's plenty to do all weekend.  Fly tying, Lure fishing & Casting Demonstrations, Expert Advice on all disciplines, Exclusive Event Offers, FREE prize draws. Test your skills on our fishing simulator and loads more in Store & in our Event Marquee.

View the full Autumn Open Weekend details 
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