Crackleback
By Ron Oben
This pattern was created by Ed Storey of Feathercraft in St. Louis, MO.
It has been around for sometime, but the materials used to tie
it have changed considerably over the past decade. The materials
and colours as shown below have been very productive on several
continents. The real beauty of this pattern is that it can be
fished as a dry, in or under the film, and weighted it is a good
nymph pattern. It does not imitate any particular insect, but
the fish love it. And it will produce fish all day long.
This is an easy fly to tie, and is very productive.
Materials List:
Hook size: TMC 102y #11, #13, #15.
Thread: Bright Red # 10 through #16 or 000 Silk.
Hackle: Furnace Saddle #2 ( slightly oversized).
Body: UNI-Stretch 1X-300 (Lt. Olive, Yellow,
Pumpkin, Chartreuse)(Peacock Herl, Orange & Green).
Dorsal Rib: Peacock Herl (two pieces together).
Ribbing: Holographic Tinsel, small.
Tying Instructions:
1. Pinch flat the barb, wrap on the thread underbody in
a normal manner to the bend. Tie in the Hackle in a manner
that will create a tail when it is palmered forward. Then tie
in the Holograph Tinsel(about three inches), then tie in the
peacock rib, using the outer ends and stroke the herl back to
stand it up. (you do not want it to lie flat on the body.
2. Now tie in your uni stretch as shown in the photo.
3. Then wrap it forward to create the body as shown in the photo.
4. Now lay out the back dorsal rib and tie off.
5. Now palmer the holograph forward about 1/16 " apart and tie off.
6. Now palmer the hackle forward (shiny side to the front)
between the holograph ribbing, and tie off.
7. Finish forming the head, whip finish and use a half drop
of cement on the head.
Fishing the Crackleback
Best results with the dry version of this pattern is as follows:
Cast across and upstream about a 35 degree angle, (many of
your strikes will occur immediately). Let the fly drift
through the full arc to a point about 45 degrees below centre
of the drift. NOW, hold it there for about 5 to 10 seconds.
If you do not do this you will miss many hits. Then jerk it
into the film and strip retrieve for about half the distance.
A couple of false casts and do it again.
Fish will very aggressively strike this fly. Be prepared, or
you will have many break-offs. If you have any questions,
Email me at Fly_tyer@hotmail.com
~ Ron Oben
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