crawdads on my mind

[WebFreeman]

Don't know why, but I've had crawdad flies in my mind lately. Thank god for google and boredom. I found this online and actually looks like something I could tie. Please note, I didn't tie it, just googled it.

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/f...072103fotw.html

[Randall]

jeremy hunt ties a crawfish pattern that i think is listed on here on the recipe page, if not, try http://taneycomotrout.com for the pattern... it looks real good.

[Jeremy Hunt]

Those look good, but one thing you have to always keep in mind. And that's the action of the fly. The body is great, but the hen hackle won't hold up over the duration of the fly. I would tie the body the same, but change the pinchers to something softer with more action and that would be rabbit or pine squirrel. I would do away with the tail because it’s an extra step that's not needed. Just my two cents.

That's the great thing about tying. The skies the limit on what you could do to improve a pattern etc.

Here’s one that I invented for Feather Crafts catalog in 2003. You can learn how to tie it on this page. It’s called the hybrid crayfish. It works really well in smallmouth creeks. I just wanted you to see the squirrel for the pinchers so you would have an idea.

jh

Here's another one I came up with tied with furry foam, Which is the same blanket you get at every hotel room. That cream furry one. You know the one, the back up they give you.

Randall, that's funny. I was working on the info and when I went to load it, you already responded. Let me know if you want to go fish somewhere besides Taney if you have that kind of time. If I’m not guiding we will fish somewhere else.

[Randall]

sounds good... after graduation, i'm free on mondays, tuesdays, and fridays.

[WebFreeman]

Thanks Jeremy. Those look good. I'd never seen that hen hackle used like that. I had some so I thought I'd give it a try. What do you use for the shell back? Did you bend the hook yourself or can you buy them like that? Do crawdads work on Taney or is the water too cold for them to live?

[Randall]

web, http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=557

click there for a recipe complete with pictures.

crawdads are more of a smallmouth fly, but will work for trout. i bet it would work better in rivers like the niangua, elk, meramec, etc.