Lee's Ferry Shrimp

The Lee’s Ferry Shrimp, also known as the deer-hair-back scud, was created by Len Holt in the early 1970s to match the prolific scud population in the tailwaters of the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. Developed specifically for the Lees Ferry section in Arizona, this pattern gained rapid popularity due to its uncanny ability to imitate freshwater scuds—one of the main food sources for trout in the area. The deer hair back provides a lifelike texture and segmented appearance, helping it stand out in the clear, nutrient-rich waters of Western tailwaters.

Fish this pattern on a short leash nymph rig with light split shot in shallow riffles where trout cruise looking for scuds near aquatic vegetation or gravel bottoms.