I need help with a Crayfish Pattern

[FishnDave]

Curtis...that DOES look like a lot more work...but it does also look really good! How did you do the carapace over the back/tail?

[Curtis Fry]

Curtis...that DOES look like a lot more work...but it does also look really good! How did you do the carapace over the back/tail?

It's 1mm white cross-link foam. I first tie it in on top of the eyes and claws, then fold it back over and wrap wire starting at the ribbing point. Then I secure it all. After that, I airbrush with brown, olive and a tinge of orange.Then I coat with Clear Cure Goo. So yeah, a lot more work, but fun to tie.

[Tig]

FishinDave
The two crayfish patterns you show are both tied by Steve May. He and I both guide and teach for Grand River Troutfitters in Ontario. Here is a link that will show you how to tie the pattern with the furry foam shell. The other one is his newest and I think simpler pattern. I'm not sure how he does that one.

http://www.grandrivertroutfitters.co...MotionCray.pdf I posted some pictures of the furry foam version that I tied on here somewhere but can't remember where.

[FishnDave]

Thanks, Tig! This is a big help.

Since you know Steve May...can you ask about recipe/SBS for his Clearwater Crayfish pattern? Especially one that looks like the one in this pic:


Much appreciated!

[Tig]

Dave
I'm pretty sure there is no SBS for the clearwater cray but the one you tied looks pretty hard to improve on. The only things you might want to do is move the eyes back a little tighter to the fly. The weight at the tail is definitely dumbell eyes of appropriate weight for your conditions and size of fly. It looks as though you might have used chain bead?? The crays you tied would certainly catch em here.

[okflyfisher]

Dave this looks similar. A soft synthetic wing wing might be flatter.

View Original Forum Topic Current Tags for This Pattern / Arctic Fox / crawdad / Crawfish / crayfish / Dubbing / lead eye / marabou / Red / rubber legs / SmallieHunter / smallmouth / Streamer / Mixed Media(variation) tied by SmallieHunter Fly Type: Streamers, Target Species: Freshwater Bass, Imitation: Crayfish, Material List: Hook: Mustad 3366 size 2 Claws: Burnt orange marabou & barred pumpkin rubber legs Body: Platte river special colored leech dubbing Legs: barred pumpkin rubber legs Wing: Rust arctic fox Tying Instructions: