Crackleback?

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

I was reading the Top 5 flies thread and a fly called Crackleback was mentioned several times. I buy most of my flies from Cabelas, Orvis or Hill Discount flies and neither of the 3 list this fly. Is it known by another name or can someone tell me where to purchase some.

2

Purchase from www.feather-craft.com

3

The Crackleback is a fly designed by Bob Story, Owner of Feathercraft in St. Louis, Mo. You will find them in their catalog and they also sell the patternsheets and supplies for that fly. I know they have a website but don’t know the addy off the top of my head. You might also check the flytying archives of this site as I believe the pattern may be listed here too.

4

Here’s the pattern and tying instructions from FAOL.

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytyin … 2fotw.html

Regards,
Terry

5

I was just reading the tying instructions and I’m a bit confussed.

So a question for the experienced tyers out there.

Wouldn’t you want to palmer the hackle with the shiny side facing back instead of forward? That would make the fly more inclined to ride on top of the water wouldn’t it?

Thanks,
Terry

6

If you palmer the hackle with the shiney side forward, the hackles will lean slightly backwards.

The crackleback will slip along the water, above and/or just in the film, when it’s quickly stripped in. It’s a real popular fly in Missouri, and works incedibly well.

7

TerryB,

I will provide this little bit of info just for you to understand the hackle question and not to create confusion or get into any conflicts with other’s opinions. As a rule of thumb, you tie palmered hackle with the hackle leaning back on a wet fly and you tie the hackle with the hackle leaning forward on a dry fly to help support the fly on the surface film. That is just a rule of thumb and the Crackleback is meant to be a dry fly that you pull under the surface at the end of the drift. You can tie it anyway you want and whatever way works best for you. I always tie it as a dry fly and lean the hackle forward.

Just my 1 cent worth. :wink:

8

Well … ya learn something every day! I thought the crackleback was a wet fly! Now I’m going to have to tie some with the dry tying hackle!! :roll:

9

Betty:

There is nothing wrong, by tying some “Cracklebacks”, using soft-hackle for palmering. I would think, that would work better on the stream or even in stillwater.

10

Thanks to all!

I’m new at this and wanted to make sure I understood the general approach to palmering the fly correctly.

Thanks for confirming that for me!

I’ve heard of folks tying wooly worms with the hackle both ways depending on whether they want it on top or not. I’d think this fly could work the same way. It kind of reminds me of a skinny caterpillar anyway. :smiley:

Thanks again!

11

And just as a note to some good answers here regarding tying wet or dry…

If you find you are getting your fly destroyed too often if you happen into a bunch of fish, you might try this…

The next time you tie up a few, begin by leaving a few inches of thread hanging off the bend of your hook. Finish your fly as usual but before you tie off, COUNTER-WRAP that tag end of thread all the way up to the hook eye and then tie off.

It’ll save you on flies…

Jeremy.

12

That’s a great tip!

I’ve always wondered if I could do anything useful with those tag ends. :smiley:

Thanks!

13

:shock: but not all of them!! It’s great fun to have at least one fly that has had the livin’ daylights blasted out of em, to show off to everyone!! :wink:

14

I don’t mean to hijack slinger’s post but I had one more question about tying this fly. And I realize this isn’t the tying forum but since we’re on the subject… :wink:

How do you make the tail for this fly? Do you just cut the vain down the middle as you get it ready to palmer?

Thanks,
Terry

15

Terry- the pattern doesn’t call for a tail. Some pictures show a few hackle fibers that go astray to the rear.

Small correction- the fly was created by Ed Story, Bob’s dad- maybe before Bob was even born!

Chuck

16

The pattern on FAOL calls for a tail.

I wrapped a few turns of thread into the hackle after tying the stripped end of the hackle in. Thus a few fibers of the hackle lay back for a tail.

dB

17

Chuck,

I’m confused. Step one in Ron Oben’s tying instructions says to tie in the hackle so it will form a tail.

Here’s the pattern and tying instructions from FAOL.

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytyin … 2fotw.html

Thanks,
Terry

18

Tail is optional. I personally prefer no tail. Don’t know why… Just the kind of guy I am. :?

:wink:

19

My cracklebacks arrived last Thursday. I went Saturday morning to give them a test. Worked good. Caught two on top and two on the swing (thanks for that tip I had never tried swinging a fly before). After a decent testing I switch to a midge pupa and caught around 10 more. Still learning and having fun doing it. :smiley:

20

This fly works real well in NE Ohio as well! I’ve been tying this fly for a couple of years and use it for panfish as well as trout. It meets my criteria for a really great fly; simple and it has peacock herl. Ohio fishies LOVE peacock herl and peacock swords. I don’t leave home without it. :smiley:

Joe