Im looking for a good pattern that is of the blue crab of the Chesapeake Bay .
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytyin … 7fotw.html
I add a rattle to mine
I also make some smaller ones that look something like this.
The one in this photo uses furry foam for the carapace
I use the “loop” side of Velcro dots ('cuz I got 'em free 
)
I was wondering if you ever heard about using a Rag-head crab. I recall someone in Maryland saying they used them and were great.
I was looking around and found some neat crab patterns here:
http://www.feather-craft.com/2007MAster … sp?page=48
Diane
JRA-
I use a size 1 or 2 (not 1/0 or 2/0) Del Brown Permit Fly mentioned by Dudley (also called a Merkin) substituting strands of dark green and brown yarn to imitate blue claw crabs:
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytyin … 7fotw.html
Another crab pattern popular down there in the Chesapeake is a simple clouser tie,
Joe Bruces Crab Clouser:
http://chemprof.tripod.com/ccclousr.htm
Crab flies work best for me in early season when there are a lot of small crabs around. This time of year Stripers will most likely be on big schools of baitfish like menhaden (simple ties are 1/0 and 2/0 Blue/White Deceivers, or hollow ties with synthetics like EP Fibers in same sizes) and bay anchovies (size 2 and 4 tan over white bucktail, with throat of short silver crystal flash, or small epoxy surf candies 2-3? long.)
Good flies for top water action now are Joe Blados Crease Flies (made from craft foam) and Lou Tabory Snake Flies (basically a deceiver with a head of spun deer body hair). I use Snakes in white for day, black for night, and fishing them and Crease Flies on a floating line, but you can use them on intermediate or sinkers as well. Here?s a step-by-step for a Snake Fly:
http://www.flyfishsaltwaters.com/sbssnake_fly.htm
Good luck, and keep looking for fish on top!
peregrines