Bodkin / Patterns

Clouser Crayfish

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass · Carp · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Streamer hook, 2-6
  • Thread Brown/olive 6/0

Materials

  • Claws Olive or brown rabbit strips (2 short)
  • Body Olive/brown dubbing (robust)
  • Eyes Lead dumbbell (1 pair)
  • Legs Rubber legs or hackle (sparse)
  • Shellback Brown or olive thin skin (over back)

How to tie it

  1. Mount hook, tie in dumbbell eyes on top of the shank so the fly rides point-up.
  2. At the bend, tie in two short rabbit-strip claws, slightly spread.
  3. Dub a robust body forward, binding in a shellback strip and pulling it over the back as you go.
  4. Add sparse rubber legs or picked-out hackle along the sides.
  5. Whip finish at the eye. Remember the fly swims hook-eye-first, which is backward, which is exactly how crayfish flee.

Substitutions

  • Claws instead of Olive or brown rabbit strips: Brown EP Fibers (clumped) — Synthetic, dries faster; Brown craft fur clumps — Softer, less bulk
  • Eyes instead of Lead dumbbell: Tungsten dumbbell — Heavier for deep water; Bead chain — Lighter for shallow water
  • Shellback instead of Brown or olive thin skin: Mottled Thin Skin — Realistic carapace mottling; Clear Scud Back (colored with marker) — Budget option

Tying videos

← All fly patterns