Mysis Shrimp
Imitates: Mysis shrimp (freshwater opossum shrimp)
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #16-20
- Best Season
- Year-round on Mysis tailwaters
- Best Conditions
- Tailwaters below reservoirs stocked with Mysis (Frying Pan, Taylor, Blue, Green)
- Water Temp
- Below 50°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 6X fluorocarbon
How to Rig It
Single fly or trailer behind a small midge. Fish a dead drift right where the dam outlet enters the river.
How to Present It
Dead-drift slow and deep through the top quarter mile below the dam, where stunned shrimp pour through the turbines.
Why It Works
On tailwaters that have Mysis-stocked reservoirs above them, dead shrimp pour through the dam 24/7 and grow trophy trout. Nothing else looks like a Mysis.
History
Mysis shrimp were stocked as forage in Western reservoirs starting in the 1960s. The trout below those dams grew enormous, and the Mysis fly was born to match.
Pro Tip
Fish white and pearl in clear winter water. The closer to the dam outlet, the smaller the fly — water-stressed shrimp shrink as they tumble downstream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Mysis shrimp flies work?+
Only on tailwaters below Mysis-stocked reservoirs. The Frying Pan in Colorado is the most famous Mysis fishery in the world.
Not sure if Mysis Shrimp is right today?
Get a fly recommendation based on live water temp, flow, sky, and time of day for any river in the US.
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