Bodkin / Patterns

Cricket

Terrestrial · Trout · Panfish · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

• Hook Standard dry fly, 2x long, 8-14
• Thread Black 6/0

Materials

• Body Black foam or dubbing (robust)
• Wing Black elk hair or foam (tent)
• Legs Black rubber legs (knotted)
• Head Black foam or deer hair (rounded)

How to tie it

1. Mount the long hook, build a robust black body to the 60% mark.
2. Tie in a black elk hair or foam wing, tent-style over the body.
3. Add knotted rubber legs, one pair, knees angled out.
4. Form a rounded black head with folded foam or clipped deer hair.
5. Whip finish.

Substitutions

• Body instead of Black foam or dubbing: Black 2mm foam — Floats forever; Dark brown foam — Field cricket color
• Legs instead of Black rubber legs: Knotted black rubber legs — Jointed look, more realistic; Black Sili Legs — Great movement in water
• Wing instead of Black elk hair or foam: Black Thin Skin — Flat wing profile; Dyed black elk hair — Natural fiber tent wing

Tying videos

• Cricket — Tim Flagler (Orvis)

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