The pattern notebook · nymph
Clouser's Crayfish
How do you tie a Clouser's Crayfish?
Clouser's Crayfish is a nymph fly pattern for Smallmouth Bass, Warmwater Species, saltwater. Find its 9 materials and 14 tying steps below.
Clouser's Crayfish is a nymph pattern designed to imitate a crayfish, effective for targeting smallmouth bass and other warmwater species. It is fished near the bottom with a strip retrieve.
- Difficulty
- 4 of 5
- Target species
- Smallmouth Bass, Warmwater Species, saltwater
- Pattern designer
- Bob Clouser
Added to catalog · Updated
At the vise
Materials
- Nymph Hook, TMC 5263, sizes 4-8
- Thread (140 Denier), Brown
- Pheasant Tail Fibers
- Mono, 20lb Clear
- Mallard Flank
- 2mm Foam, Tan
- Olive Brown Dubbing
- Grizzly Hen Hackle
- Lead Wire, .020"
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Tying instructions
Build a thread base extending to the bend of the hook. Trim the thread tag.
Secure a strip of lead-free wire along the near side of the shank.
Secure a second strip of lead-free wire along the opposite side of the shank.
Tie in 6-8 pheasant tail fibers extending from the bend. Fibers should extend 1-1.5x shank lengths beyond the bend.
Tie in the tip of a mallard flank feather over the pheasant tail fibers.
Cut a strip of furry foam approximately one hook gap in width.
Secure the furry foam above the pheasant tail fibers and mallard flank tip.
Dub a thick thorax covering the rear 1/4 to 1/3 of the shank.
Prepare a mallard flank feather by stripping the base fibers.
Tie in the flank feather at the front of the dubbed thorax.
Apply one to two wraps of dubbing ahead of the mallard flank.
Fold the furry foam forward and secure at the front of the dubbed body.
Repeat steps 8-12 to create additional body segments as needed.
Whip finish behind the hook eye and trim the thread. Apply super glue on the thread to secure.