Fish-Skull Shrimp & Cray Tail

Tie realistic, weighted shrimp and crayfish flies.

Designed by Martin Bawden

The Fish-Skull Shrimp & Cray Tail™ is a stainless-steel weight molded in the shape of crustacean tails.

Quick and easy to tie, the Fish-Skull Shrimp & Cray Tail™ is a simple alternative to bead chain eyes and dumbbells – two general-purpose fly tying materials which add the needed weight to shrimp and crayfish flies, but require ungainly tying methods and lack the distinctive tail profile of these creatures.

Target both saltwater and freshwater fish, from bonefish, permit, stripers, speckled trout, and redfish, to carp, smallmouth bass, and other warm-water species.

California Prop 65 Warning

 Quick and easy to tie
No more figure-8 wraps and no more twisting. Simply tie in the Shrimp & Cray Tail™ directly in line with the hook shank and slightly behind the hook eye, then tie in the rest of your materials.

Realistic look and shape
Your completed fly will have a better finish and more realistic profile because the Shrimp & Cray Tail™ is molded after the true shape of crustacean tails.

Ensure your fly tracks correctly
The Shrimp & Cray Tail™ acts as a weighted keel by distributing most of the tail’s weight to the bottom of the fly (like a bead chain or dumbbell), ensuring it will swim in the correct position. This also allows you to tie with the hook facing either down or up.

Stable base
The shape of the tail acts almost as a tripod to provide a stable base for your fly to stand upon, which means (unlike bead chain eyes) your fly is less likely to fall on its side while laying motionless on the sand waiting to be stripped.

Trigger the strike
The initial strip of the fly can produce the telltale "puff" of sand or silt, similar to that of an escaping shrimp or crayfish bursting out of cover, to catch the attention of the fish you're targeting.

Stainless steel
Gives your fly the same weight you would expect from a bead chain or small dumbbell, allowing a predictable sink rate.

 Small
Fits hook sizes #8 and #6.
Has the same weight and width as a small bead chain.

Medium
Fits hook sizes #4 and #2.
Has the same weight and width as a large bead chain.

Large
Fits hook sizes #2, #1, and larger.
Has approximately the same weight as most small dumbbells. 

Q: How does the weight and size of the Shrimp & Cray Tail™ compare to bead chains and dumbbells?

A: The SMALL size has the same weight and width as a SMALL size bead chain.

The MEDIUM size has the same weight and width as a LARGE size bead chain.

The LARGE size is the approximate equivalent weight of most SMALL size dumbbells.

This means that you can expect an equivalent and predictable sink rate when tying your favorite patterns.

Q: Can the Shrimp & Cray Tail™ be used to tie hook up and hook down flies?

A: Yes. The SCT acts as a keel helping to orientate your fly correctly in either position.

Q: Which existing fly patterns can be tied using the Shrimp & Cray Tail™?

A: The Shrimp & Cray Tail™ can be used to tie virtually any shrimp or crayfish pattern that uses a bead chain or dumbbell. It is a simple material substitute that does not necessitate you to change the basic way the fly pattern is tied or constructed. Take your current patterns to the next level or create some new ones!

Q: Which size hooks should I use?

A: Hook sizes will always vary depending on which types of patterns you are tying and the hook models, however for typical bonefish flies (example: a Gotcha tied on a standard saltwater hook) we have found the following works well:

SMALL size for #8 & #6 hooks.

MEDIUM size for #4 & #2 hooks.

LARGE size for #2, #1 and larger hooks.


Q: What is the Shrimp & Cray Tail™ made of?

A: The Shrimp & Cray Tail™ is made of high quality stainless steel which means it's strong, corrosion resistant and suitable for saltwater use.

Q: In what position of the hook shank should the tail be tied on?

A: Tie underneath the shank of the hook toward the eye, but make sure the Shrimp & Cray Tail™ does not extend past the eye of the hook because it will not keel correctly.


Q: Is the product patented?

A: Yes, there is currently a Patent Pending status.