Bodkin / Patterns

Dead Drift Crayfish

Nymph · Trout · Advanced · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 3XL curved-shank streamer/nymph hook, 6-10
  • Thread Brown 6/0

Materials

  • Weight Lead-free (8-10 wraps under thorax, off-set to ride hook-point up)
  • Antennae/Claws Rusty brown (1 pair pumpkin-tip rubber legs, tied at bend)
  • Mouthparts Rusty brown (Small clump marabou at bend)
  • Carapace/Shell Mottled brown pectoral fins (Thin Scud-Back or turkey slip)
  • Body Rusty brown (Rabbit or SLF dubbing)
  • Rib Copper thorax stripe (Fine wire)
  • Legs Brown silly legs nymph size (Palmered brown hen or partridge)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and start thread at the bend. Remember the crayfish rides backward: the CLAWS point over the hook eye, the tail over the bend.
  2. Off-set 8-10 wraps of lead-free wire toward the far side so the fly rides hook-point up, and lash it at the front third.
  3. At the bend, tie in the marabou mouthparts and split a pair of rubber-leg claws to each side, spread in a shallow V.
  4. Bind in the copper rib and a strip of Scud-Back shell, then dub a fat, tapering body forward to just short of the eye.
  5. Palmer a soft brown hackle over the front half for legs, then pull the shell forward over the top and lock it down.
  6. Counter-wrap the copper rib forward in 5-6 open turns to segment the shell and cage the legs, and tie off.
  7. Sweep the fibers down, build a small head, and whip finish.

Tying videos

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