Cruncher?

[ant77]

Hi

I'm trying to tie a cruncher or two and have some idea of the general profile etc. but can't seem to find much consistency in patterns given in the mags and on the net. I've tied a couple to show you how I'm doing them and would greatly appreciate any comments. Are they supposed to have a thorax cover, what should the hackle length be, where does the body stop etc. I've called these 'quill' crunchers because the bodies are stripped peacock - the claret one has gone a little wayward in the colour scheme!

Many thanks in advance
Ant


Claret Quill


Olive Quill

[golden graham]

I like would to see the tail shorter , the body a little longer, the hackle a tad shorter and closer to the eye because there is to much thread showing. IMO

I prefer your second tying with the more muted color scheme.

[Scratch]

Yep, would prefer the tail shorter, and not tied out of PT... it's crap for tails.. won't last 5 minutes. Try cock hackle fibres.

I'd loose the tag. Save it as an occasional addition to the odd muted pattern, rather than adding it as a rule.

Hackle length is about right on the second one. Pretty much a personal thing, but a mm or two either side of the second shot is about right.

Looks like you've used cock hackle? Should be hen, and just two turns.

Apart from that little lot they're decent enough ties. They do have the look and feel of attractor wets to me though... not particularly nymphy. Try and calm them down a bit rather than blinging them up. Simple, drab crunchers will always be your bread and butter over the flashy stuff.

[golden graham]

Give it another shot and post the results , would like to see the outcome.

[Rob Edmunds]

The only thing i'd change is the tail and hackle as already mentioned...

Use a hen hackle for the thorax...as it's softer you'll get more movement..

for the tail cock is better that pheasant...

like the tags, and the proportions..(if i'm being picky the tail could be a 1/3rd shorter) ...i'm sure the rainbows will like them too...

also the rib may get smashed up quite easily...you can over rib with wire or clear mono for added strength....

[maharg]

Classics: The Cruncher

All you need to know.

[ant77]

Hi all

Thanks so much for your replies. I can't believe I've overlooked the Classics section to date, its an absolutely brilliant resource! I've just managed to snap a couple of plainer versions. They're far from perfect but I think I'm getting there in terms of profile etc...Thanks again! (I need a new pair of scissors)


Plain cruncher


Cruncher with bling cheeks

[syphogenic]

Close, very close, less hackle, maybe one turn less...what's the body. I can't see the gill fillament qualities that the pheasant tail gives you...

[ant77]

Syphogenic, thanks for the tip! I'll try and do one turn only - these are just two - and get the hackle sloping back at a better angle. The body is stripped peacock quill... do you mean the peacock herl breathing filaments or is there a way to use PT?

[syphogenic]

The original cruncher.... body of pheasant tail fibres, thorax of peacock herl (bit behind the hackle in lay-mans terms) The reason pheasant tail works so well, be it the original Pheasant tail nymph or otherwise is because of the thousands of tiny hairs on each strand that the feather gives you....trout see this approximately 20x closer than we do, due to there superior eyesight, these small hairs are similar to the breathing fillaments on many nymphs and although rather undramatic to us a trout visualises much more, and in much more detail. Bottom line is, you get the fibres from the pheasant tail, you get the irredescence that only natural peacock herl gives you (no matter what colour you dye it in, I think the original was claret/magenta) and furthermore the Greenwell hen hackle gives you more movement and life.....A pattern born to be a winner...nevertheless..it's still a pheasant tail nymph!