Hook: Mustad Signature All Around hook from a size 2 to 4/0 (S71S SS). The Mustad Signature Circle Streamer (C71S SS) is also a very good hook for this pattern..

Thread: Danville Flymaster Plus in White.

Body: Loop Velcro.

Legs: Rubber legs / Silly Legs cut to length and knotted.

Claws: Rubber Band cut to length and knotted.

Eye's: 50lb monofilament cut and burned.

Head: Rabbit strip in Red

1. Start behind the eye and wrap a base of thread back to the start of the bend.



2. Tie in a small clump of tan PolyBear or Antron or Sea Fibers extending out past the bend ½ the shank length.



3. Tie in a small clump of tan PolyBear or Antron or Sea Fibers extending out past the eye ½ the shank length.



4A. Double over a piece of adhesive backed loop Velcro. Trim a piece that when opened up appears to be a flattened 8.



4B. Peel back ½ the adhesive backing and stick the Velcro to the hook shank.



5. Now it is time to prepare the guts and add them to the body.

Legs - Cut 4 pieces of rubber legs to a length of 1 inch. Tie a single overhand knot in each piece just slightly off center.

Claws - Cut 2 pieces of rubberband to a length of 1 inch. Tie an overhand knot in each piece so that the knot is about 1/3 of an inch from one end. Trim the shorter leg to look like a pincher. You can use markers to color the claws to match the local species.

Eyes - Cut a couple 1-inch pieces of 40lb or 50lb monofilament. Use a lighter to burn one end of each piece to form an eye. Use a pair of pliers to form a 90-degree elbow ¼ inch from the other end. This will help hold the eyes in the body better.



6. Ever order stuffed crab at a restaurant? Well, now it's time to stuff your own. Place the legs into the adhesive. Place 2 legs on each side of the crab, next to the hook shank. Position the legs so that the legs will angle down. Now you can add the claws and then the eyes. I like to add a little PolyBear, Antron or Sea Fibers between the eyes to act as the mouthparts.

If you are trying to imitate a Blue Crab you can add one extra set of legs on body on the opposite side of the hook shank. These legs are the swimmers so wide rubberband can be used effectively.

You can also insert a rattle at this time if you wish. This had proven very effective when targeting Redfish in stained water.




7. Peel the rest of the adhesive backing off and fold over the top of the Velcro body and press firmly.



8. Use markers to color the crab so that it closely resembles the crabs in the area you will be fishing the fly. You will be surprised just how finicky the fish can be, refusing crab flies that are not colored exactly like the local prey species.