big ugly Signal Crayfish

[Dunk]

I've enjoyed and learnt a lot from all the fly tying posts, so thought I'd share a pattern I tied a couple of days ago.
I intend using it on the Severn for large chub in the summer and big trout, which must have switched on to the established population of signal crayfish, but it would work equaly well for bass in a larger size I think, or smaller for mullet maybe (something I may test out). Is it tried and tested... no! Will it swim like a wet plastic bag, I dunno... maybe, but it should be OK. I'll report back any success. haha

*Update**************

Yep, it sinks, it looks good in the water. On the downside the tail acted like a diving lip on a plug (as I feared). In still water this may not be such an issue, but I swum it in a river, and with the flow this caused a spinning action - basically we're looking at a crayfish/mepps imitation here... I said it was untested!

Got the scissors out and sliced the tail into strips - so water could pass through - a definite improvement, but some of the spinning action must be being caused by the claws. I think a redesign is in order - more weight to the undercarriage and maybe some way for the claws to articulate so they don't cause twist. If you can be bothered, watch this space... haha

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It's a very simple tie, which is the sort of thing I like. ere's the recipe:
Longshank lure hook - size 10 or 8.
Lead underbody - secured on top of hook shank so it swims hook point up.
Polybag or similar for the shell back and tail.
Glass beads secured with copper wire for the eyes.
Claws are represented by a split Golden Pheasant neck feather with varnish applied to the points.
Dubbing is a mix of orange and light brown, but could be anything you have to hand. teased out to represent legs. Oh yeah, I added a few feathers in a cluster underneath the head (again to indicate legs).
Mono ribbing.
A few dabs of permanent marker to bring it to life...

Hope some of you like it.

[Scratch]

Crafty little tie there Dunk. Clever use of the GP tippets. Well done

[gus262]

Very prawn-y! I'd peel it and eat it if you left it lying anywhere near me

[fredaevans]

That's one of the coolest takes on Crayfish I've ever seen. The 'Fly Only' (year-round) section of the North Umpqua River has a healthy population of some sort of Crayfish. These turn a bright Red-Orange (spawning colours?) in the late fall (Summer Run Steelhead fishing).

That fly could be soooooo right to swing under their noses.

fae

[Dunk]

Very prawn-y! I'd peel it and eat it if you left it lying anywhere near me

I'll take that a vote of confidence. haha I do see some potential as a saltwater shrimp imitation in lighter colours.

I've only tied two of them, but I learned a lot from the first, which I tied quite quickly just to see how it all worked together.
For starters I was too heavy on the orange dubbing - it was even more prawny. You can see the few feathers tied in for legs better here. For scale, a biro:

[Dunk]

Fred: The American signal crayfish we have over here now should also go through the same colour changes in Autumn. I'm guessing it's mainly the larger mature crayfish though.

Thanks for the positive comments Scratch. Cheers.

[danielp]

Thats a truly brilliant tie! Imitative but still looks very full of life and fishable definitely one to copy!

[Dunk]

Thanks Daniel. I generally tie imitative flies, don't follow patterns as such - if it looks like what they're eating (and it's quick and simple to tie) - that's my rule of thumb. I have a lot of 'jobs' in my fly boxes - grey jobs, brown and olive jobs etc.

[flyfishy61]

Originally Posted by Dunk

I've enjoyed and learnt a lot from all the fly tying posts, so thought I'd share a pattern I tied a couple of days ago.
I intend using it on the Severn for large chub in the summer and big trout, which must have switched on to the established population of signal crayfish, but it would work equaly well for bass in a larger size I think, or smaller for mullet maybe (something I may test out). Is it tried and tested... no! Will it swim like a wet plastic bag, I dunno... maybe, but it should be OK. I'll report back any success. haha

It's a very simple tie, which is the sort of thing I like. ere's the recipe:
Longshank lure hook - size 10 or 8.
Lead underbody - secured on top of hook shank so it swims hook point up.
Polybag or similar for the shell back and tail.
Glass beads secured with copper wire for the eyes.
Claws are represented by a split Golden Pheasant neck feather with varnish applied to the points.
Dubbing is a mix of orange and light brown, but could be anything you have to hand. teased out to represent legs. Oh yeah, I added a few feathers in a cluster underneath the head (again to indicate legs).
Mono ribbing.
A few dabs of permanent marker to bring it to life...

Hope some of you like it.

Hello that looks realy nice and effective, maybe i could use on the thames upper and weir for the elusive brownie i have been trying to catch. not tying much now so if you try out and catch could you make a few extra for a fiver

[boobies]

love it - i fish a fishery with loads of these in there. one of the best patterns i seen for them is this. how about very very fine rubber amongst the cluster of legs for added movement??? maybe not???? Shane