Bucktail Craw Variant Text and photos by Scott Lux (fishlux)
This variation of the bucktail craw was created
out my frugality and almost complete lack of
training. I saw a bucktail craw pattern in a
magazine, and wanted to tie it. While I did not
have bucktail I did have deer body hair. I made
the substitution and a variant was born. The
body hair is more buoyant than the bucktail. As
a result, the variant sinks claws up, much like a
craw in a defensive posture.
I’ve listed the materials and colors I used for
these pictures only as a reference. Craws come
in many colors, as do materials. Creative use
of markers can help too. I am a big fan of using
what I call ABM, Available Bench Materials. If
you don’t have the material specified, use
something similar. I’ve listed a few options
in parentheses.
Materials for the Bucktail Craw Variant
Hook: Dai-Riki 710, size 4 (#2-#12).
Any streamer hook, 1x long or longer will work.Weight: Lead-free wire (rattle) I’ve tried this fly with a
brass dumbbell, but I didn’t like the look or the action.Thread: 3/0 Medium brown.
Rib (Optional): Copper wire (gold, black, or
red wire, tinsel, etc).Body: Leech Yarn, Sand (dubbing, chenille, yarn,
etc.) Leech Yarn isn’t great for sizes smaller than #10.Shellback (Optional): ThinSkin (Raffia, Bugskin, etc.).
Eyes: Mono Eyes, Large (plastic dumbbell eyes,
melted monofilament).Claws: Deer body hair.
Antennae: Horse hair (peacock herl, Krystal
Flash, stripped quills, rubber legs, etc.)
Instructions for the Bucktail Craw Variant:
Originally published March 1, 2004 on Fly Anglers Online by Scott.