Clouser Crawfish

Member Comments:

The Fly was described in Flies, Ties, & Techniques: A Practical Guide To Tying 50
Irresistible Flies by Charles Jardine (ISBN-10: 0-7641-3906-1) which I recommend for fly
tying ideas.

Glen Gammill

Clauser Crawfish, from Paul McCain

Thread: 6/0 to match back
Weight: Lead wire
Antennae: Pheasant tail barbs
Nose: 8 or 10 ringneck tail fibers cut short
Claws: Two hen or wild game flank feathers
Back: Felt
Body: Light green dubbing
Legs: Grizzly or dun hen hackles

Tying Instructions:

Attach thread to hook and wind to bend.
- Lash shank-length pieces to both side of
  hook shank
  - Attach 3 or 4 pheasant tail barbs to make
    antennae. Over them, tie in a small bunch
    of tail fibers for the nose. Cut to 1/4 inch.
    - Attach strip of felt facing backwards.
      - Wrap small amount of dubbing for head.
        
        Prepare flank feathers in a "V" shape. Tie
        in two layers of feathers so that each side
        of the "V" is on the side of the head to
        form the claws.
        
        Fold felt over top, then tie off.
        
        Wrap thread to eye of the hook. Attach
        hackle then dub the head.
        
        Wrap thread back to head, then reverse
        wrap the hackle to the head.
        
        Fold felt over top of body.
        
        Wrap thread in open spirals to make ribs.Whip finish and then trim crayfish tail.

Member's Comments:This fly is on our Housatonic River trip list of recommended flies.

Paul McCain

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