Thanks, Kyle ,turvy and melk. The claws are made with 25 lb mono for the main arm with 2 pieces of 10 lb test tied to the ends to form the pinchers. The segment in the claws arms are buit up with thread wraps and sealed with a drop of head cement. The other eight arms are made from 4 pieces of 25 lb mono that are flattened and heat kinked to hold their position. The entire fly is very sturdy , even the antennae is tied into the hook as a single piece of 6lb mono.