Bodkin / Patterns

Flats Crab

Crab · Permit · Redfish · Bonefish · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard saltwater, straight eye, #2-#6
  • Thread Tan 3/0

Materials

  • Eyes Lead dumbbell or bead-chain (1 pair)
  • Claws/legs Tan/olive rubber legs (craft fur or rubber legs)
  • Body Tan carapace (trimmed deer hair or yarn/wool)
  • Eyes (stalks) Black ostrich herl (burnt mono or bead-chain)
  • Weed guard Mono (optional loop)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the hook and lash dumbbell eyes near the bend (hook rides point-up) so the fly flips over and sinks claws-first.
  2. At the same point tie in two splayed craft-fur claws and a couple of rubber legs on each side.
  3. Add two short mono crab eyestalks flanking the claws.
  4. Spin or dub a flat, oval carapace of deer hair or wool forward over the shank to the hook eye.
  5. If using deer hair, pack it tight and trim it top and bottom into a flat crab-shell profile; keep the body sparse enough to sink.
  6. Add a mono weed guard if fishing grass, whip finish at the eye and cement.

Tying videos

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