How to Tie a Clauser Crayfish Fly

The Clauser crayfish is a fly used to entice hungry trout or river fish into a strike. The fly is a moderately complicated fly. If you are just starting out in tying your own fly, this is one that requires a great deal of patience and practice. Take your time with the fly and use it to land fish in your preferred stream, and beam with pride over making the fly and successfully fishing with it.

Things You'll Need

  • 6- or 8-sized streamer hook
  • 6/0 thread
  • Forceps
  • Fly vise
  • Pheasant tail barbs
  • 8 ringneck tail feathers
  • Clippers
  • 2 hen feathers
  • Pale green dubbing
  • Dun hen hackles
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Instructions

    • 1

      Grip the hook in the fly vise. Wrap up the hook shank with the 6/0 thread; grip the thread with forceps as it makes the wrapping process easier.

    • 2

      Set two to three pheasant tail bars on either side of the hook's eye. Make them look like pincers of the crayfish. Wrap them to the shank via the thread.

    • 3

      Place another small group of pheasant tail in between the barb-pincers and wrap it so it snugs into the shank, simulating the nose of the crayfish.

    • 4

      Add a piece of the felt onto the back of the hook's shank and wrap so the felt looks like it is three distinct pieces. Add the pale green dubbing to the nose piece to simulate the crayfish head. Wrap with the thread to secure to the fly.

    • 5

      Assemble the flank feathers (the ringtail feathers) into the shape of a triangular fan and place it on the rear end of the hook, where the curve begins. Wrap to the shank with the thread to make the tail fan of the crayfish.

    • 6

      Wrap the thread, going in a spiral up the length of the shaft from the tail to the eye-hook. Make the feathers and felt break up to simulate the carapace of the crayfish. Clip the thread and tuck into a coil to secure. Trim the feathers of any stray strands. Remove form the vise and take it to the river to try it out.