How to Tie Crayfish Flies

Crayfish are small crustaceans found along river beds, inland lakes or in Southern bayou waters. Crayfish, like most underwater crustaceans, propel themselves backwards through the water as they squirt water from the mouths, much like a jet engine. When tying a fly for fishing, the crayfish pattern goes backwards onto the hook so as to simulate the crayfish's movement in the water, to entice weary fish into a strike. Crayfish flies are among the most difficult of patterns to master.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly vise
  • Forceps
  • .25 thread
  • 6/O hook
  • Orange flash
  • Hourglass eyes
  • Brown hen feathers
  • Olive or tan dubbing
  • Gold prismatic tape
  • Squirrel hair or deer fur
  • Clippers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Grip the shank of the hook in the fly vise so the barb and hook curve down and away from the vise. Wrap 12 coils of the .25 thread around the hook's shank. Use the forceps to grip the thread.

    • 2

      Thread the gold tinsel around the shank, making a "candy-cane" pattern down the shank length. Thread the hourglass eyes over the shank and push them up to the curve of the hook. Tie them into position using the .25 thread.

    • 3

      Place two hen feathers in front of the eyes, making sure to keep the curvature of the feathers facing out from each other. Thread them to the shank using the .25 thread.

    • 4

      Spin the vise so the fly is upside down. Tie the dubbing to the shank on the underside of the feathers. Wrap the dubbing around the length of the shank and then fluff it out so the shank looks like a fuzzy worm with feathers.

    • 5

      Fold the prismatic tape in half, going lengthwise. Peel off the back and place the adhesive side to the top of the shank, keeping the gold side up and out. Place a clump (about 12 to 18) of squirrel or deer hairs onto the back of the shank and secure in the center with the .25 thread. Trim down the hair so the gold tape is exposed and remove from the vise. It is now ready for fishing.