How To Steps (pine Craw)

[Jeremy Hunt]

Pine Craw

Recipe:

Hook: TMC 777SP

Thread: GSP 50, Orange

Weight: Lead Eyes, Painted color to match

Antennae: Flashabou & Sili Legs

Claws: Pine Squirrel

Body: Pine Squirrel

Step 1.

Go ahead and attach the thread at the front of the hook. Make a thread base before securing the eyes. I’m using the heaviest eye to get the fly down. As you can tell they are painted a brown/orange to match the overall color of the pattern. Secure them by doing figure eights on both the top and bottom.

Step 2.

Advance the thread to the bend. Tie in the flashabou first, then the sili legs. The flashabou will be longer then the sili legs. Still be at the bend for your next step.

Step 3.

Tie in a small ball of dubbing before adding the pinchers. This will help flare them out. The dubbing I’m using is the craw dub by Wapsi, great dubbing by the way.

Step 4.

Measure two pieces to be 1 ½ times the hook length. Tie them right behind the ball of dubbing. You’ll want to wind back to where the hide is right up on the dubbing. This will help create the flare.

Step 5.

Now this might be a little confusing at first, but you want to tie this in where the rabbit is going backwards when winding it forward. Notice in the picture the placement. You’ll only tie in a small portion of the hide. If you tie too much down you will see it after you start winding.

Step 6.

Wind it all the way up and snug it right behind the eye. Keep going, but here in the picture I’m showing you where you can take a breather.

Step 7.

Now make a figure eight around the eye and one full turn in front. This might take a few times to make sure it’s down right, just play with it and you should figure it out.

Step 8.

Trim the excess and glue it.

Step 9.

Cut a different color pine squirrel, or use the same to glue on the other side of the pinchers to make a two sided claw. I like orange and red over all others. This should be a killer pattern for crawdads wherever you fish it.

[ohmz138]

That is one of the best crawfish patterns i have seen yet. I don't like my flies too realistic, just suggestive. Very good Jeremy, thanks.

Matt

[fishinwrench]

Yep, that kicks it, Jeremy.

[Nortrad]

Another winner, thanks Jeremy.

[Danoinark]

Stellar....

Dano

[Flysmallie]

Very Nice Jeremy.

Never thought to glue another strip on the inside. That gives it a better profile, not to mention a choice of another color.

Learn something new everyday.

[flytyer57]

Very Nice Jeremy.

Never thought to glue another strip on the inside. That gives it a better profile, not to mention a choice of another color.

Learn something new everyday.

Gluing a piece of foam to the ends should make the pincers stand up in a defensive position.

[flytyer57]

Jeremy,

I knew I saw this pattern somewhere and wanted to tie some up but forgot to bookmark the page. I checked your site but somehow I missed it.

Those Tiemco 777SP are quite expensive for me. what other hook would you rcommend? Maybe a TMC 8089? TMC 9395?

[back2roots]

You might try a Mustad 33903 kink-shank popper hook. The kink is a GREAT way to mount the eyes in the same place every time and really easy to lock the eyes in tight....plus they're about $7.00 per 100.

[flytyer57]

You might try a Mustad 33903 kink-shank popper hook. The kink is a GREAT way to mount the eyes in the same place every time and really easy to lock the eyes in tight....plus they're about $7.00 per 100.

After watching Joe Cornwall's fly tying videos at flyfishohio.com, where he mentions what you have about eye placement, I have given these hooks some thought. But I really do not like Mustad hooks. I've had too many break and they are too dull.

The hooks that Jeremy uses are Tiemco 777SP which are 2x heavy, 2.5 wide, and 3.5 long. Personally, I have never seen these hooks and am just wondering if a bass hook or a streamer hook would be a better substitute for the pricey 777SP's.