Given growing number of non indigenus species has anybody had success with Crayfish patterns for WBT on rivers and streams?

I did tie up one pattern in the summer... but had little success. Tied up in the standard way, with two feathers for claws, tied reverse so it could be jagged retrieved to imitate a retreating crayfish and with hook pointing up to prevent snags.

However, I feel my main mistake was not weighting it enough. I'll be tying up a few more soon that have a decent lead underbody, so I can really get that to imitate the natural on a moving river bed with more effect.

I have caught a handful of trout with good sized crayfish half digested sitting in their throats. I think they must test them when they see them, looking for ones that have recently shed their exoskeletons. They certainly learn very quickly to feed on them in a stream, as do perch.

Anyone else have a successful crayfly?

N

I only fish a crayfish pattern very occasionally and then only sparingly. Indeed I find more pleasure in tying up the patterns than actually fishing the things, being quite large and cumbersome they are not the easiest pattern to drift along the bottom. I have only ever caught one fish on a Cray pattern, that was on the Wharfe, the season before last and what the fish took the fly to be I have no idea, but cannot believe it would be a Cray, as the fly was fishing mid water.

If you have enough lead on board and even put some shot on the line you might be able to let them move about under an overhanging rock shelf, that might do the trick, make sure the colour is that of something about to shed its skin. You might also find you want to reverse the dressing so the hook is pointing upward and a way from the bottom so the hook does not blunt on the rock or snag up.

I really think there is an opportunity here to invent a new method for the big fish. If you have the inclination and the aptitude as well lots of time you might come up with some wonderful new method of fishing this type of fly and designing an effective pattern also. I am sure the best Cray patterns will be ones that don't necessarily look like a Cray but do behave like one. Good luck with your investigations and let’s know when you found a catching winning method.

Have a look towards the end of this promo. It looks the business as you'd expect from OE.


All the best

FC

Heres a couple i've tied up, but since i value my fishing time when i get it, i havent the confidence nor patience to stick with them for more than 20mins with no interest, even though the tees is crammed full of the buggers!



Graeme

A weighted or a gold head Black woollybugger on a size 10 longshank hook has caught crayfish feeders for me . I've fished it upstream nymph & Czech nymphing styles . Google Fox's mudbugs for USA patterns. Rover's flies look good to me , but it's the trout's opinion that counts.

Superb Graeme. Love those, any chance of a recipe please.

Sean

I tied up a couple of these to try out in my local loch which holds crayfish:

Tying the Buechler Crayfish by Davie McPhail. - YouTube

T'was a right pain getting it to sink and it cast like a wet sock. I didn't pursue it.

I have solved the crayfish problem years ago and have posted pictures of my fly design here several times. There is no better crayfish pattern. Here it is again;

“The General Crustacean”



Bobby

__________________
"Tight lines from Vermont where the winters are long the fish are wild and the women are good looking."

Is there anyone with a ready supply of crayfish plus a few good crayfish recipes?