[Jockiescott]

Browsing through 'Along the Faughan Side' today and looking at the patterns of flies given in it, I still can't help but think that what we now call a Faughan Shrimp is a more modern version of Laurence Cunningham's Orange and Purple Shrimp.

Cunningham's patterns must be from the 70s or very early 80s to have been included in Olly McGilloway's book.

The pattern for the Orange and Purple shrimp is as follows:

Tail: GP red breast
Tag: oval gold
Rear body: orange floss ribbed with oval gold
Mid hackles: orange under claret
Front body: purple floss ribbed with oval gold larger than that used for the rear.
Front hackle: a large purple, or claret, hackle
Sides: Jungle cock

This is my attempt with a claret front hackle.

Then we have the more modern and more widely known, Faughan Shrimp.

This pattern has been around for years too and was included in Peter O'Reilly's book among others.

Tail: GP red breast
Tag: oval gold
Rear body: orange floss ribbed with oval gold
Mid hackle: burnt orange
Front body: claret floss ribbed with oval gold
Front hackle: Claret
Eyes: jungle cock

Could the Faughan Shrimp be a slightly simplified version of Cunningham's fly which was tied and used for the same river?

Perhaps cunningham simplified it himself before he died?

Would anyone have any background on either of these patterns?

 

[easky]

Two lovely patterns and ties Jockie, hard to know (and I don’t ?) if the Faughan shrimp was an evolution or a separate pattern.. I do know they’re both fish takers ?????

 

[Jockiescott]

Two lovely patterns and ties Jockie, hard to know (and I don't ?) if the Faughan shrimp was an evolution or a separate pattern.. I do know they're both fish takers ?????

The Faughan Shrimp is such a beautiful pattern. The colours just look so well together.

I must try Orange and Purple with a Purple front hackle. I think it would look very different and it looks good in my mind anyway. That doesn't always transfer well to the hook though!!! :lol:

 

[gwelsher]

I must try Orange and Purple with a Purple front hackle. I think it would look very different and it looks good in my mind anyway. That doesn't always transfer well to the hook though!!! :lol:

Both nice flies.
I do like the look of the Claret front hackle on the O&P, I did the Purple one in TOTM.

 

[Jockiescott]

Both nice flies.
I do like the look of the Claret front hackle on the O&P, I did the Purple one in TOTM.

I'd forgotten about that till you mentioned it! :lol:

Just had a look there again. Yours has a Bishop Shrimp feel about it. Even more confused now!

 

[Saint Andrews]

I'm liking these Irish shrimps your doing JS, I'm not a fan of down eyed flies for Salmon (dont know why because I'm fine with them for trout and sea trout) but yours look awsum. Might bite the bullet and give em a go for Salar

 

[Jockiescott]

I'm liking these Irish shrimps your doing JS, I'm not a fan of down eyed flies for Salmon (dont know why because I'm fine with them for trout and sea trout) but yours look awsum. Might bite the bullet and give em a go for Salar

The down eye hooks are purely down to me being miserable SA!!! :lol:

The day I bought those, the cheapest salmon hooks they had were £8.99 for 10 and these B175s were £9.99 for 100! :lol:

I've used B175s in different sizes in the past and had as much success on them as any salmon hook. You land some and lose some but that's fishing.

This is the first time I've used them in this size though. They are size 4.