The pattern notebook · streamer
Simple Crawfish
How do you tie a Simple Crawfish?
Simple Crawfish is a streamer fly pattern for Smallmouth Bass, Bass, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout. Find its 9 materials and 11 tying steps below.
- Difficulty
- 3 of 5
- Target species
- Smallmouth Bass, Bass, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
- Pattern designer
- Traditional (composite pattern)
Added to catalog · Updated
At the vise
Materials
- Streamer Hook, Gamakatsu B10S, sizes 2-6
- Thread (6/0), Rust or Brown
- Eyes: Lead Dumbbell Eyes, Medium, Black
- Claws: Orange or Rust Rabbit Strips (two short pieces)
- Body: Rust or Brown Chenille, Medium
- Hackle: Brown or Furnace Saddle Hackle, palmered
- Shellback: Rust or Mottled Brown Thin Skin (optional)
- Flash: Copper Krystal Flash
- Head Cement
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Tying instructions
Secure the hook in the vise. Attach thread and tie in dumbbell eyes on the top of the shank near the eye using figure-eight wraps.
Wrap thread rearward to the bend. The dumbbell eyes will cause the fly to ride hook-point up.
Cut two short pieces of rabbit strip (about 1 inch each). Tie one on each side of the bend as claws, fur facing outward.
Add 2-3 strands of copper Krystal Flash on each side.
Optionally tie in a strip of thin skin at the bend for the shellback.
Tie in a brown saddle hackle feather at the bend by the tip.
Tie in rust chenille at the bend.
Wrap the chenille forward to just behind the dumbbell eyes. Tie off and trim.
Palmer the hackle forward over the body. Tie off behind the eyes and trim.
If using thin skin, pull it forward over the top of the body and tie down behind the eyes.
Build thread wraps around and behind the eyes. Whip finish and apply head cement.