Scud / ShrimpWill Sand's Epoxy Mysis Shrimp
Will Sand's Epoxy Mysis Shrimp is a slender, translucent imitation of the mysis shrimp found in tailwater reservoirs, built on a Tiemco 200R with a fine mono thread body coated in epoxy or UV resin for a glassy, see-through shell. White Antron forms both the tail and legs, a few mallard flank fibers add a second tail element, and small mono eyes finish the profile trout key on in mysis-rich water.
Year Round
Advanced
Trout
Apr 2025
Overview
Wrapping the body directly in fine mono thread and coating it with epoxy or Loon Thick UV Fly Finish produces the glassy, almost invisible shell that makes mysis imitations effective, since naturals are nearly transparent in the water column. White Antron fibers form a sparse tail paired with a few strands of mallard flank, then reappear as trailing legs along the underside, while small mono eyes add a hint of realism without adding bulk. Tied sparse on a #16-20 Tiemco 200R, it is fished dead-drift or with a slow hand-twist retrieve near the bottom in tailwaters where mysis shrimp wash out of upstream reservoirs, often in the low-light hours when shrimp drift is heaviest.
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Materials
- Hook:
- #16-20 Tiemco 200R
- Thread:
- Fine Mono Thread
- Tail:
- White Antron
- Tail 2:
- Natural Mallard Flank
- Eyes:
- Mono Eyes
- Legs:
- White Antron
- Glue:
- Epoxy or Loon Thick UV Fly Finish
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Mysis Shrimp swim in short bursts with a distinct side-to-side tumbling motion, frequently pausing near vegetation or substrate. Trout key on these crustaceans because they occur in high concentrations and provide consistent protein-rich forage.
Where Trout Eat It: Trout feed at all depths in tailwater eddies and slow-current zones where mysis concentrate during vertical migrations.
How to Fish It: Dead drift with 9-foot 5X fluorocarbon leader at various depths. Most effective during higher flows when surplus shrimp wash through dam releases.
Best Water: Tailwater eddies below dams where current slows and mysis accumulate, deep buckets (6-12 feet) in smooth runs, and seams between fast and slow current.
Strike Type: Fish often mouth scuds gently, creating a soft take that appears as a slight line draw or indicator pause. Set on any hesitation.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: This fly can be rigged as part of a multi-fly setup, with a heavier fly to get it down in the water column.
Seasonal Timing: This fly is effective . Use the Will Sand's Epoxy Mysis Shrimp when fish are feeding on mysis shrimp, particularly in tailwater fisheries.
Pro Tips: The Will Sand's Epoxy Mysis Shrimp is a sinking fly designed to be fished subsurface. The UV resin shell provides a lifelike translucency that mimics the natural mysis shrimp.
Entomology
Mysis shrimp migrate vertically through the water column daily, rising toward the surface at night and descending during daylight, creating concentrated feeding opportunities when currents push them into productive zones. Their translucent bodies and erratic swimming make them visible yet vulnerable, providing trout with easily digestible protein during these predictable movements.
- Organism Type
- crustacean
- Life Stage
- general
