From Piscator Flies:
“I first found the wriggler in a fly swap over a decade ago. The fly was developed based on the success of center-pin fishermen using “wrigglers” as bait on the Great Lake tributaries. The Wrigglers are the nymphs of the Hexagenia mayfly. These are large nymphs and can be up to a couple of inches long. Size 6-10 is the sweet spot for the fly pattern. Variations include colors like brown, tan, yellow and orange. You may also want to include hot butts or flashier chenilles in the body of the fly.”
Materials list:
Hook: Mustad 3906B #6-10
Thread: Olive 8/0 (70d)
Tail: Squirrel tail (grey)
Rib: Copper wire
Body: Olive chenille
Legs: Grizzly hackle
Back: Squirrel tail (grey)
optional UV resin or cement on the back
This pattern is tied and looks just like the old Del Canty Grizzly Shrimp, tied in super-sized proportions. Del claimed that trout in particular, were memory imprinted from an early age with the food sources they consume. In this particular case, he was mimicking a common scud and presenting his monstrosity of a fly to monstrosity browns and rainbows in Flaming Gorge Reservoir – all the while in a belly boat tethered to shore by a long rope to keep from being blown all the way to Kansas. He claimed that the BIG fish went on the feed during “high seas.” Del was also well known several decades ago, for catching the Utah state record rainbow trout from Flaming Gorge Reservoir. That mount hung (perhaps still does?) in the Flaming Gorge Resort restaurant. It weighed over 26 pounds and drew many “ooh’s and aah’s” from customers. You can see Del and his freshly caught state record while still in his belly boat and standing on a boat ramp – just query his name, Del Canty, on Google.
Dennis, thanks for the info on the Grizzly Shrimp and Del Canty. It’s an interesting story and quite a fish. I looked up the Grizzly Shrimp, I would say they are the same pattern, just some slight difference. I also learned that the Spring’s Wriggler name comes from a shop that sold this pattern called Spring’s Sporting Goods in Muskegon, MI. Thanks for sharing your info, much appreciated. D