The grass shrimp fly is an unglamorous little pattern that catches a lot of fish. In the marshes and estuaries where grass shrimp are a staple, it is the go-to when striped bass (especially schoolies) and white perch are keyed on that small, translucent forage.
What it imitates
It matches the tiny, nearly transparent grass shrimp of the eelgrass and marsh, usually an inch or two, tan, olive or clear with a little flash and a buggy, breathing profile. Sparse and small is the whole idea.
How to fish it
Fish it around marsh edges, creek mouths, docks and lights at night, where shrimp get swept out on the tide. A dead drift or a very slow strip matches the way grass shrimp move, tumbling with the current rather than darting. It is a natural on a light rod in skinny estuary water.
Tip Fish it at night around lights and current. Grass shrimp get pulled into the flow after dark and fish line up to sip them, so drift your shrimp fly naturally through the light line and the seams where the current concentrates the bait.