Bodkin / Patterns

Crystal Tail Hex Cripple

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 2XL dry fly / emerger hook, 6-10
  • Thread Yellow or tan 8/0

Materials

  • Trailing shuck Amber/pearl material (crystal flash + Zelon)
  • Abdomen Pale yellow/amber material (dubbing)
  • Rib Brown permanent marker (fine thread or wire)
  • Wing Natural deer or elk hair (1 clump, upright)
  • Thorax Amber vinyl rib medium (dubbing)
  • Hackle Grizzly/ginger hackle (1, parachute or collar)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and start thread, laying a base back to the bend.
  2. Tie in a trailing shuck of amber Zelon mixed with a few pearl crystal-flash strands, about one shank length long. This glinting shuck is the trigger on a cripple.
  3. Wind a slim tapered abdomen forward over the rear half, then rib it with brown thread in 5-6 open turns.
  4. Stack a clump of deer hair and post it upright as a single wing at the 70% mark.
  5. Wind a grizzly hackle parachute-style around the wing base, or as a sparse collar, to float the front.
  6. Dub a short amber thorax around the wing base and hackle.
  7. Whip finish at the eye and add a touch of cement, leaving the shuck and hackle to ride the fly low and crippled in the film.

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