Fordy's Flies - Romy's Sand Shrimp

It’s great when you find a fly pattern that’s been specifically designed to fulfil an angler’s needs. When Colin Macleod started to fly fish for perhaps the most enigmatic of saltwater species, the mullet, he discovered there simply wasn’t a fly pattern around to do what he wanted it to do. So, the Romy’s Sand Shrimp was born. Named after Colin’s daughter, Colin started using this simple and elegant shrimp pattern in and around the estuaries and coastlines inhabited by mullet - and he started to catch them. At the time of writing this, he’s caught over 400 fish - of a species so complex, many anglers consider them to be uncatchable. Here’s my version of the fly, given to me by the man himself after several extraordinary sessions trying to tempt these fish, and experiencing first hand the concept of #mulletmadness. Hope you get a chance to tie one or two up - and if you do tie one on and have a fish with it, the mullet gods are kind!
Materials Used:
Tying Thread: Semperfli Nanosilk in Beige
Hook: Hanak H300BL Size 12 or 14 (You can also use a gold hook rather than nickel)
Red Wool for tag
Rib: Medium UTC Ultra Wire in gold
Back: Hends Olive Flashback
Dubbing: Hends Spectra to match sand colour
@orvissaltwaterfestival
@OrvisUK
@OrvisChichester
@fulling_mill
#OSFFF
#mullet
#romyssandshrimp
#colinmacleod
#mulletonthefly
#bassonthefly
#orvisfestivals
#orvissaltwaterfestival
#saltwaterflyfishing

[@pauljennings580]

Thanks Andy,. youve got me tying them tonight

[@paulvizard4795]

Thank you Fordy, looking forward to trying that fly

[@mookbuilt]

Great fly!

[@brianfeeney9493]

SPOT-ON EH !!! ✨🎣💫

[@zebrass2392]

I LOve fish

[@bsa5650]

Nice video mate but even better would be to see you doing some fly fishing for mullet.ATB

[@FordyGoesFishing]

We did that in the show. A whole hour of me fishing for them and not catching one. Colin caught fish though. Brilliant fun. Back at it this summer.

[@bsa5650]

@@FordyGoesFishing I see how do I find it! cheers

[@FordyGoesFishing]

It’s on Amazon Prime if you have it.

[@bsa5650]

@@FordyGoesFishing Cheers all the same but I don't

[@brysoncook8156]

Thanks for sharing -- have you tried fishing this fly for mullet in stillwater? I have several very large mullet in a drainage pond that I want to target, but I'm not sure how to work the fly. Maybe very slow strips, with a lighter wire hook to help slow the sink rate? Or would this fly be limited to use along the beaches and flats where sand shrimp are present?

[@FordyGoesFishing]

Hi Bryson. No much but there’s no reason not to try it if the fish are shrimp feeders. I’d try it static under an indicator (bung). You can fish lighter with that presentation too. I’ve most found muller feeding in current however. You might see a load in still water, but getting them to eat a fly is a whole other story!! Have you read Colin Macleod’s book?

[@brysoncook8156]

@@FordyGoesFishing thanks! No I haven't, I'll have to give it a look.

[@enricociancabilla4915]

excuse me but why the red tail looks divided ? u wuont have that effect or not ? thanks and best regaards

[@FordyGoesFishing]

Hi Enrico. The split is accidental. Just the way the tag came out on that fly. I don't think it makes any difference

[@enricociancabilla4915]

@@FordyGoesFishing thank u

[@peterjones1018]

Works in Dubai