FLY ID

[Steve Smith]

I have a question on a fly that I’m trying to ID. I was fishing Roaring River and having good luck with Cracklebacks when the trout went cold on them. A regular at the river was doing well, so I asked him what he was using. He handed me what looked like a thread worm pattern wet fly. It was a size 14 – 16 barb less dry fly hook with a brass bead head. The body was wrapped with a white rubber band material. I’m not sure if the rubber band body would be legal during C&R, but could easily be replaced with yarn or chenille. The kind gentleman told me the name of the pattern, but I have forgotten. Fished under a foam indicator, the pattern was a winner.

[Phil Lilley]

Could it be a flesh fly? Something imitating fish remains?

[Guest Jim Traylor]

Sounds like a Cranefly or larvae type imitation tied with white or actually cream colored Latex from a surgical glove.. More power to the guy if he is fishing this pattern as this creature is found in all waters and even in trees and in the ground.

Jimmy T.

http://flyfisharkansas.com

[Steve Smith]

Crane fly would probably be very close. It's looks like a zebra midge tie with a white rubber body. Thread fly or grub would be the best I could describe it. I'll tie one up and send a picture. Very effective

[Lucky Fly]

Steve,

That sounds like a white R&R Caddis. I tie mine with rubber leg material on a scud hook in a size 16. Very effective and legal. i use red thread and make a small collar. The fly is a western fly from Colorado I beleive. White River Angler in Fayetteville is were I picked up the pattern, they use it effectively on Beaver as well. Can also be tied in a brown.

Steve Watkins

[Steve Smith]

That's it Steve. Except this one was on a 14 -16 barbless dry fly hook. The fly pattern seemed best when the trout scattered out of their feeding lane in the current. Thanks for the help Steve, and thanks to the gentleman who shared the pattern. Definitely one for my fly box.

[Jeremy Hunt]

I would say it's a "Latex" material. You can buy it at Bass Pro. It comes in a smaller package, it's falt and a off yellow color.You can color it with markers to whatever you like. It makes alot of cool patterns and easy to work with.

What color was the body? You said it was on a straight shank hook w/ a bead.

Jeremy

www.taneycomotrout.com

I would say it's a "Latex" material. You can buy it at Bass Pro. It comes in a smaller package, it's falt and a off yellow color.You can color it with markers to whatever you like. It makes alot of cool patterns and easy to work with.

What color was the body? You said it was on a straight shank hook w/ a bead.

Jeremy

www.taneycomotrout.com

[Steve Smith]

Thanks Jeremy; that’s very close to the basic pattern exactly except for materials used in the construction of your example. I took the fly apart and can replicate it now. The hook is a standard TMC barbless dry fly hook in a size 14 [i want to try some on a scud hook]. The fly is not weighted except for a small brass bead head. I bought a pack of white rubber skirting material in a sheet at Bass Pro that is used to make skirts for jigs and spinner baits. I separated one strand [the strands are round, not flat rubber] from the sheet, and tied on the back bend of the hook as in your example. Then I wrapped the rubber strand forward to the bead and back in layers until the body has the same taper as your example. The strand of rubber gives the body a distinct segmented look. I wish I could take a picture and share it, but my cheapo camera won’t get the job done. The problem is the pattern is probably borderline at best under the MDC definition of a “fly” in Missouri’s trout parks.

[Oldschoolcane]

I think JT was exactly right about this pattern. Heres some more info:

http://www.danica.com/flytier/abithell/white_nymph.htm

Another pattern, without the latex:

http://www.westfly.com/patterns/wet/craneflylarva.shtml

Cranefly Larva

John Barr

Fly Tied by Umpqua Feather Merchants

Hook: TMC 9395, size 4

Thread: Tan

Tail: Tan or brown hen fibers

Rib: Clear Swannundaze

Body: Light olive rabbit dubbing

Head: Dark olive rabbit dubbing

Uses

Imitates the larval stage of the cranefly--an insect that is ignored by too many fly anglers. The fly should be weighted, either with wire under the dubbing or with a beadhead.

Variations

Another useful color combination is an cream body with a tan head

How to Fish

Bounce the fly along the bottom using the indicator or tight line presentations.

Heres what were trying to imitate:

The larva of the cranefly looks much like that of the mosquito larvae, but is larger and is brown, gray or white and often quite transparent. They feed on detritus, such as decaying leaves, which accumulates in ponds or backwater streams. Cranefly larvae breathe through a disk in their tails and, like mosquitoes, hang downward from the surface film of the water for breathing. Cranefly adults, which are often mistaken for giant mosquitoes, are actually harmless. They are long and slender with very long legs. "Mosquito hawk" is another common name given to the cranefly.

Crane fly larva, which has no legs, can be confused with a cutworm.

Heres the larva and the pattern above:

[Oldschoolcane]

Heres the adult version for this bug.

http://www.hipwader.com/2005/crane-fly-pattern

Tim