Recipe
*pattern is tied upside down and weightless to be fished on a drop shot system
Hook - 3XL, 2XH streamer hook-sz. 2 or 4
Thread - brown 120 denier or clear mono
Claws - brown craft fur tied pointing at out at an angle on each side of the hook bend
Shell - thin orange craft foam - tied in pointing towards claws - this foam can be found at dollar tree
Legs - brown saddle hackle *wrap forward after Upper body dubbing has been applied - wrap to just in front of the hook point
Upper Body - tan dubbing blend - dubbing loop wrapped in front of hook point - *now wrap hackle forward
Rib - clear mono or wire tied in in front of hook point
Lower Body - tan dubbing blend in dubbing loop wrapped to hook eye
*pull shell foam slightly until it stretches a little, center on top of fly, and tie off at hook eye
*take rib and wrap forward over foam shell to create roughly 5 segments
Finish - coat thread wraps near eye with orange nail polish to create a hot spot - after dry, top coat with Sally Hansen Hard as Nails - coat foam with bronze fabric paint - when dry top coat with brown fabric paint to highlight segments
Tying Notes
These flies can be quick to tie once you get the sequence down. Make sure you tie this pattern upside down so it can be fished hook point up on a drop shot system. After tying everything in, before you apply any finish, use a dubbing brush to tease out the body fibers and make it buggy. The fabric paint makes this fly very durable and your time at the vise will be maximized. They will hold up fish after fish. Make sure to experiment with colors to match the hatch in your local waters.
Fishing Tips
This fly can be fished under an indicator while drop shot nymphing, cast with a drop shot rig and darted near the bottom, or slowly jigged. Depending on the depth and type of water will determine if you use a floating, sink tip, intermediate sink, or full sink fly line. This fly is at home in creeks, streams, and rivers but would do well in still water where crayfish are present. Check out the video below to see this fly in action!
*pattern is tied upside down and weightless to be fished on a drop shot system
Hook - 3XL, 2XH streamer hook-sz. 2 or 4
Thread - brown 120 denier or clear mono
Claws - brown craft fur tied pointing at out at an angle on each side of the hook bend
Shell - thin orange craft foam - tied in pointing towards claws - this foam can be found at dollar tree
Legs - brown saddle hackle *wrap forward after Upper body dubbing has been applied - wrap to just in front of the hook point
Upper Body - tan dubbing blend - dubbing loop wrapped in front of hook point - *now wrap hackle forward
Rib - clear mono or wire tied in in front of hook point
Lower Body - tan dubbing blend in dubbing loop wrapped to hook eye
*pull shell foam slightly until it stretches a little, center on top of fly, and tie off at hook eye
*take rib and wrap forward over foam shell to create roughly 5 segments
Finish - coat thread wraps near eye with orange nail polish to create a hot spot - after dry, top coat with Sally Hansen Hard as Nails - coat foam with bronze fabric paint - when dry top coat with brown fabric paint to highlight segments
Tying Notes
These flies can be quick to tie once you get the sequence down. Make sure you tie this pattern upside down so it can be fished hook point up on a drop shot system. After tying everything in, before you apply any finish, use a dubbing brush to tease out the body fibers and make it buggy. The fabric paint makes this fly very durable and your time at the vise will be maximized. They will hold up fish after fish. Make sure to experiment with colors to match the hatch in your local waters.
Fishing Tips
This fly can be fished under an indicator while drop shot nymphing, cast with a drop shot rig and darted near the bottom, or slowly jigged. Depending on the depth and type of water will determine if you use a floating, sink tip, intermediate sink, or full sink fly line. This fly is at home in creeks, streams, and rivers but would do well in still water where crayfish are present. Check out the video below to see this fly in action!