"I have seen times when the only way we could catch Smallmouth on the Mulberry River here in Arkansas was with a crawdad pattern with one craw broken off. We fell on this one day fishing with spinning gear, had a claw on a soft craw break off and wham fish started nailing the thing and from that day forward we Incorporated it into craw fish patterns and caught loads of fish on fly rod that way." "parrotheadcrb"

I have to agree with "parrotheadcrb", the most effective way of tying a crawfish, or even a crab pattern is to remove one claw. This makes the crawfish more venerable to the fish.

I also tie my crawfish flies, so they are no longer than 1? inches (3.8 cm) in length. The bigger the crawfish, the more likely it is able to defend itself, so fish ignore the larger crawfish. Who wants to be pinch on the nose by one of those claws? ~Parnelli


[This message has been edited by Steven H. McGarthwaite (edited 06 March 2006).]