Bodkin / Patterns

Sand Flea

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

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Mustad 34007 or Gamakatsu SL45, 2-6
  • Thread Tan 6/0 or 140 denier

Materials

  • Eyes (weight) Small lead dumbbell or bead chain (1 pair)
  • Shellback Tan bucktail or Swiss straw (1 clump/strip)
  • Body Tan-orange sparkle dubbing or chenille (1 rope/length)
  • Legs (optional) Tan Sili Legs (1-2 pairs)
  • Egg spot Orange dubbing or thread band (1 pinch)

How to tie it

  1. Lash the dumbbell or bead-chain eyes near the hook eye so the fly rides point-up and digs into the sand like the natural.
  2. At the bend, tie in the shellback material (a slip of tan bucktail or Swiss straw) pointing rearward.
  3. Dub a fat, egg-shaped body of tan-orange sparkle dubbing over the rear two-thirds of the shank. Mole crabs are round little bulldozers, so chubby is correct.
  4. Add an orange band of dubbing at the rear for the egg-laden females pompano key on.
  5. Pull the shellback over the top of the body, tie it down at the eyes, and trim a short stub of tips past the bend as the digger tail.
  6. Figure-eight dubbing around the eyes, whip finish, and cement.

Tying videos

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