Bodkin / Patterns

Kraft's Kreelex

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass · Pike · Intermediate · 4 versions

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Long-shank streamer hook (Mustad 79580 or 3XL streamer), #2-8, #2-8
  • Thread White 140 denier (UTC 140)

Materials

  • Eyes Silver dumbbell / bead-chain eyes (sized to hook) (1 pair)
  • Underwing/belly flash Kreinik Flash (or Flashabou), gold (small bunch)
  • Overwing flash Kreinik Flash (or Flashabou), silver (small bunch)

How to tie it

  1. Start the white thread about one-third back from the eye and tie a pair of silver dumbbell (or bead-chain) eyes on top of the shank with tight figure-eight wraps; add a drop of cement.
  2. Invert the hook (or plan for the fly to ride hook-point-up). On what will be the belly side, tie in a sparse bunch of gold Kreinik/Flashabou strands just behind the eyes, extending about 1.5 shank lengths past the bend.
  3. Fold the forward-pointing gold strands back and lock them down so the flash flares from behind the eyes (Clouser style).
  4. On the top side tie in a matching sparse bunch of silver Kreinik/Flashabou, same length, and fold-and-lock it the same way.
  5. Keep the wing sparse and full-length; the fly should shimmer, not be bulky. Build a smooth thread head, whip finish and cement.
  6. Trim the flash tips square if they are ragged. Aim for a thin, flashing minnow profile.

Other versions

3 more in the app: Light, Gold, Purple.

Tying videos

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