Bodkin / Patterns

Schultzy's Low Water Crayfish

Streamer · Trout · Smallmouth Bass · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 3XL streamer (e.g. Daiichi 2546/2461), 2-4
  • Thread brown 140 denier

Materials

  • Dumbbell eyes Black mono eyes small (1 pair (medium))
  • Rabbit strip (Zonker) Tan/brown rabbit strip (1 short piece)
  • Flashabou Copper flashabou (4 strands)
  • Webby hackle or dubbing brush Brown dubbing (1)
  • Barred rubber legs Brown/orange round rubber legs barred (2 pairs)

How to tie it

  1. Fix the hook, lay a thread base, and lash a pair of dumbbell eyes on top of the shank a third of the way back from the bend. Set here, not at the eye, so the fly rides hook-point-up and kicks along the bottom.
  2. At the bend tie in a short tan rabbit strip and split it into a shallow V for the claws, no longer than half a shank; add a few strands of copper flash beneath.
  3. Tie in a brown dubbing brush (or a webby hackle plus dubbing) right at the bend for the body.
  4. Wrap the body forward to just behind the eyes, building a shaggy, buggy taper; if using a separate hackle, palmer it back through in 4-5 open turns for legs.
  5. Figure-8 two pairs of rubber legs around the eyes so they splay wide.
  6. Cross the thread in front of the eyes, dub a small head, whip finish, and cement.

← All fly patterns