I developed this pattern about
7-8 years ago with the help of my friend, Reverend Bob (Mike) Lake. The
Reverand is a native of California and used to run the Central Iowa Fly
Fishing Club Meetings I used to attend when I lived in Des Moines.What the heck are crawdads?
Crawdads are fresh water crustations which are of the same genetic order
as lobsters and shrimp. ( I think..no flames please I'm not a biologist.)
In freshwater crawdads will range from an inch to up to 3-4 inches in length.
Crawdads are about a 1/4" to about an inch wide. As crawdads grow they
molt and their skin splits. The newly molted crawdads are called softshell
crawdads and are a favorite food of smallmouth and brown trout. During the
mottling process the cawdad's colors will change to match the surroundings.
For example if the crawdad is surrounded by olives, his color will change
to an olive color. The most common colors are gold, dark brown,olive and
orange.
Typically most crawdad baits ( used by spin fishers) are much too large.
Smallmouth in particluar will at times feed entirely on a diet made up of
crawdads and have a decidely strong perference against crawdads with
very large pinchers. It is my opinion that one of the reasons that the
woolly bugger is so effective is that it resembles the crawadad.
Most crawdad patterns aren't fished deep enough nor do most fly fishers
correctly mimic the hopping motion in which the cawdad travels. Also crawdads
are night feeders and are inactive during the main part of the day light
hours. For these reasons, most folks give up on these patterns without giving
them the chance that they deserve.
I developed this pattern about
7-8 years ago with the help of my friend, Reverend Bob (Mike) Lake. The
Reverand is a native of California and used to run the Central Iowa Fly
Fishing Club Meetings I used to attend when I lived in Des Moines.
At our meetings we sell fly materials to each other to cover the cost
of our meetings. Sometime ago, Rev Bob came across a motherload of trevic
blanket material. This material is called furry foam and is a synthetic
cloth which is fuzzy and bonded to a thin foam core. If you can find a pair
of Wells Lamont insulated gloves (blue ones) at the hardware store, the
lining is furry foam. Anyway, for years I've teased Rev Bob that he picked
up the trevic blanket at a sleazy motel while he was on a Jimmy Swaggert
road trip. Rev Bob didn't think this was very funny........In honor of cheap
motel blankets and Rev Bob I bring you...................
Reverend Bob's Crawdad (AKA Clouser Crawdad)
Hook: Mustad 79580 sizes 4-8 ( 8 is the best size)
Thread: black 6/0
Pinchers: Bronze flash a bou and copper or black crystal flash over split
fox squirrel tail
Body: med chenille
Overbody: strip of furry foam tied in at tail and secured to body with med
wire. Can mark back w/magic marker for mottled colors
Hackle: saddle wrapped in back 30% of body
Wrap whole under body with lead wire.
Favorite colors : olive, tan, grey, lt. purple, orange.
Tying Instructions:
1) Tie in squirrel tail. Tail=hook shank.
2) Split squirrel tail and wrap like you would kip tail wings....ie figure
8 wrap around each half.
3) Tie in sparse bunch of crystal flash in unequal pieces....this imitates
the antannae....a couple should be longer than the tail.
4) Cut a strip of furry foam 1/4" by 1". Cut strip to a point.
Tie in point.
5)Tie in chenille and hackle.
6) Wrap chenille to hook mid-point. Wrap hackle and tie off.
7) Fold and strech furry foam and secure with 2-3 thread wraps.
8) Tie in med wire. Wrap chenille forward. Tie off. Pull back over top,
wrap with wire and tie wire off. Cut back strip so that a small tab sticks
over the eye.Dave Whiltock came up with this fly a few years ago. Most fly
fishers are familar with the same pattern tied as a sculpin. In fast current,
this fly is a killer hopped between big rocks. I've slayed
tons-o-smallies with this one!
For more Info Contact:
Mike Hogue / Badger Creek Fly Tying / 622 West Dryden Road, Freeville, NY 13068
Phone: 607-347-4946