Deer hair sandcrabs

[Martin McFly]

Hello everybody,
I've been fishing the surf (SoCal) for a bit over a year and slowly but surely I'm learning the how to. One of the favorites baits for perch, corvina, shovelnose shark and other fish is the sandcrab, really easy to catch and it produces VERY successful results, there your regular crab pattern tied with yarn and it works but I wanted to tie something that resembles not only the color but also the shape. Here is the result, please tell me what you think.



This is what I'm trying to imitate



Thanks

[Eric-WD]

Part of imitation is putting the bait where the fish expect it, those might float in the surface above where the fish are. but give them a try the fish are always the final judge.

[Uncle Jesse]

The look is very good, do you have enough weight under the hair to keep the hook pointy end up?

[Daniel J]

Very nice pattern.

[Martin McFly]

The fly is weighted with dumbell eyes and I'm fishing with a sinking tip fly line, I tried them already (like for the 15 min my kids let me fish) and the fly sinks (maybe a bit slow but it does) and it swims hook up. I guess I was just bored and wanted to tie a deer fly because it's been a while since I did now that I mostly fish saltwater. If the pattern doesn't work I will use the regular yarn pattern I have.
Thanks guys.

[rainbowchaser]

If you want the fly to sink try substituting rams (sometimes sold sculpin wool) wool for the deer hair. You can spin it on the hook and trim it to shape much like deer hair but it doesn't float.

[Martin McFly]

Not a bad idea at all and I have some at home. Thanks ranbowchaser, I'll give that a try as well.

[jeffro]

I like it...sorta looks like a little Squid or Cuddle Fish as well as a crab...Great idea Sir

[Beaver]

Nice pattern Martin. Let us know how it works.

Beaver

[Bluegill222]

Looks good to me.If sink rate is an issue, go to brass barbell eyes instead of the bead chain and that should do it.