Bodkin / Patterns

Messy Craw

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 3XL streamer or jig hook, 4-8
  • Thread brown or olive 6/0

Materials

  • Dumbbell eyes Painted dumbbell eyes medium (1 pair, optional)
  • Marabou Brown/olive marabou (1 plume (tail/antennae))
  • Round rubber legs Orange and pumpkinseed (2 pairs)
  • Flashabou Gold flashabou (5 strands)
  • Crawdad/shaggy dubbing Brown/olive body dubbing or thread (body)
  • Soft hackle or chenille Brown/olive soft hackle or chenille (palmered body)

How to tie it

  1. If weighting, lash a dumbbell under the shank near the eye so the fly rides point-up; start thread at the bend.
  2. Tie in a marabou tail one shank long at the bend to wave as the craw's antennae and tail.
  3. Tie one orange and one pumpkinseed rubber leg across the bend, splayed to the sides as the claws.
  4. Tie in 5 strands of gold Flashabou at the hook eye and stroke them back over the body to the tail, binding at intervals for flash along the flanks.
  5. Dub a shaggy body forward, picking it out messy, and palmer a soft hackle or chenille through it to just behind the eye.
  6. Add a second pair of splayed rubber legs at the front, whip finish and cement.

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