Adult Cranefly Pattern

[lastchance]

I've been looking here and on google and I can't seem to find an adult cranefly pattern that I like. Does anybody care to share?
Thanks

[whatfly]

You mean like: http://globalflyfisher.com/patterns/...dane-crane-fly or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPteMNmtqc4 or http://www.flyfishsd.com/hans-adult-cranefly/ or ...

Plenty of them out here but how useful they are has always been the question. One often hears and reads that they are not a significant portion of a trout's diet, hence the paucity of patterns. You'll find a few more nymph patterns, and although I only carry the Killer Bug myself, a Hares Ear works in a pinch too. Only adult pattern I've ever seen in anyone's box was essentially just an oversized parachute pattern that an old timer insisted worked in the dead of winter on a particularly tough lake to access. Never had a chance to check the veracity of his statement. YMMV.

[Joe Billingsley]

A.K. Best uses nothing but a size 18 or 20 dry fly hook, dry fly dubbing, and size 2 white hackle. Very simple and it works. I prefer wet fly hackle and use it as a drowned crane fly. With that small of a hook and the dry fly dubbing, even with webby hackle it tends to stay in the film.

Joe

[ScottP]

The folks across the Pond are big into daddy longlegs (their version), ranging from basic to a bit involved

http://www.fish4flies.com/Dry/Daddies-and-Hoppers/

Get your pheasant tail knotting skills up to speed.

Regards,
Scott

[Silver Creek]

I've been looking here and on google and I can't seem to find an adult cranefly pattern that I like. Does anybody care to share?
Thanks

Did you check out this thread:

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/s...dult-Crane-Fly

[lastchance]

Thanks, Guys. I'll be tying mine in sizes 16, 18 & 20. They're small here in my area of Pennsylvania.

[lastchance]

Thanks guys. I think I'll make a hybrid from one of these patterns. The trouble is that most of them have too much material to put on a size 18 or 20 hook. We grow 'em small in Central, PA.

[lastchance]

A.K. Best uses nothing but a size 18 or 20 dry fly hook, dry fly dubbing, and size 2 white hackle. Very simple and it works. I prefer wet fly hackle and use it as a drowned crane fly. With that small of a hook and the dry fly dubbing, even with webby hackle it tends to stay in the film.

Joe

You have a picture of it Joe? Just curious to see how he imitates it.

[Joe Billingsley]

Sorry about the picture quality and the quick tie. I couldn't find my book to take a picture of AK's tie but you get the idea. 4 materials - hook, thread, dry fly dubbing, hackle. Probably should reduce the amount of hackle by a wrap or 2. Kind of a spider-type fly with giant hackle. It works.

Joe

[lastchance]

Thanks, Joe