Simple Crayfish - With rabbit zonkers - McFly Angler Fly Tying Tutorials

[@gearpigg2312]

Awesome. Love the guide fly. Was watching another crayfish pattern that takes 20 minutes to tie. That's nuts.

[@mikeellickson4199]

Cool pattern. Excellent instructions. Simple, clear, thorough.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it

[@speterlewis]

Brilliant. And thanks for zooming in so close...that's so helpful!

[@McFlyAngler]

👍 glad you like it

[@speterlewis]

@@McFlyAngler Tied some up tonight. Great pattern. Easy and fun to tie. The smallmouths around here should be shaking in their boots (if they wear boots...). Ice-out is in a couple of weeks, and then, look out!

[@McFlyAngler]

Let me know how they do for your area, where do you live? Don’t give the exact place (can’t be too careful online) but rough area? I always like to see where my patterns are working best.

[@McFlyAngler]

Oh btw, the fly tying video coming out today (9am pacific time) should be a good one for smallmouth as well. You can tie it in clown coloration also or something bright for the smallmouth. I always had good luck with clown colored jerk baits when I conventional fished for smallies back in the day.

[@speterlewis]

@@McFlyAngler Western Maine, about halfway up to the Canadian border. Lots of lakes and streams, but the fishing here is absolutely terrible. If you come, I'll take you. Bring a blindfold and a lot of cash...

[@lovefishing7519]

Very Nice 👌i made it and i m very happy to résult !!! Thanks you very much for all your vidéo 😁👍👍👍

[@McFlyAngler]

Glad you liked it, hope you caught many fish.

[@lovefishing7519]

Yes is Nice i want use it for black bass 😜

[@McFlyAngler]

Awesome! Good fly for them absolutely!

[@user-hj3ol9qx7v]

Half a decade later and I say, "Awesome" vid...

[@McFlyAngler]

Thank you!

[@user-ei7jm6wb7t]

Awesome fly keep up the good work!

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks!

[@flyfishingsussex]

Nicely done fly and video. Thanks and cant wait to try out on trout?

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah should work on trout depending on where and how your fishing. It’s a bit big and heavy, probably tough on a 5wt. But doable.

[@tallpaul1563]

Nice! Been looking for a good Crayfish imitation for river Smallmouuths.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks man, yeah it’s a good one. If you want something lighter and smaller, check out my latest pattern the “mini McCraw”. Video Just came out last week

[@hookedupbacklashed]

Love this fly. I have also tied in a black version.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks! Yes black, blue, all could work.

[@themakaimercenaries1837]

great I just started tying one myself

[@McFlyAngler]

Nice!

[@jeffjackson5331]

This is a sweet little fly bud.

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks Jeff

[@jeffjackson5331]

@@McFlyAngler you are very welcome bud.

[@seanmooney3907]

Hey Shawn, I really love this fly. Unfortunately, we cannot use lead in Maine. There are laws in each state regarding the use of lead. Non-lead, steel, brass, is all we can use. Anyway, it is a good idea to mention sometimes that there are different laws because if you get caught using lead in Maine, there is a significant fine. Lead is destroying many waterfowl that eat it. Loons are endangered now in Maine thus the law change. Thanks for sharing the pattern, All the best, Sean

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah, there are different laws in each state, unfortunately if I discuss all laws from every state or even country in all my videos, they would be ridiculously long. I leave that up to the viewers to know their fisheries laws. Glad you like the fly. So there are a few options for you, that might work. They have painted lead? Not sure if that is legal. Since the lead isn’t exposed. Or they make tunsten dumbbells also, which is even heavier. That is usually legal in most states. Or just go with some really large brass dumbbells. Just you need the weight to get it to sink properly and ride hook point up. I will add the fact that some materials might not be legal in some states in an upcoming video. But not the fly thing vids. I try to keep them short and to the point. Rather than add a lot of info that will make the videos 20 minutes long. But it is a good idea to let people know, so I’ll put it in a discussion video soon. :).

[@Three_Rivers_Adventure]

Tungsten eyes ? Not sure if they make those or not.

[@ETconehome]

I tied it with olive zonkers and a root beer body. Got hits immediately

[@McFlyAngler]

Nice, glad your getting bites.

[@kevinschilling6629]

Yep like it

[@McFlyAngler]

Awesome

[@stewoutdoors3020]

I like it !

[@McFlyAngler]

Glad you do.

[@bigpapi3636]

I really like the way that fly sat at the bottom, looks like a craw for sure. So the dumbbell "eyes" in this case are just a weight to get the fly to sit correctly? On the anatomically correct craw the actual eyeballs would be at the other end, correct? Not being contradictory, I really like the fly and just trying to figure it out!

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah its just to get weight, and make it sit hook point up. Not for aesthetics. If you want to add eyes, its not hard to do so. Just takes a little more time. I find the fish don't really care that much, and it allows me to tie this super quickly. You could also add Krystal flash with the rubber legs to give it some sparkle. But yes, the dumbbells arent really for eyes, just to give the fly some weight to sink and to ride hook point up. Kinda looks like the tail though, Sorta...

[@stewoutdoors3020]

Thinking the same thing. But I tie shrimp not crawdads.

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah, same thing with brown shrimp, eyes are more for the fisherman than the fish I find. Haha

[@stewoutdoors3020]

@@McFlyAngler valid point.

[@jerrypeacock5166]

Fish seem to key on claws when it comes to crawfish, and eyes when shrimp are on the menu. Many shrimp you see eyes and feelers first because they are almost clear. Seems that way in my experience anyway, not to say it's written in stone. This pattern looks great, just to add my two cents, like a clouser, keep weight off eye a little and do not over weight to much. I catch most fish on the fall in slower to still water. Many times you don't feel the bite.

[@dashermike3207]

I like this but I don't use a fly rod. Do you think this would work if tied on some kind of stand up light weight jig head for spinning tackle? Very nice!

[@McFlyAngler]

Yes, this would be heavy enough for a lighter action spinning rod.

[@jerrythefisherman94]

Nice Crawfish Pattern. I am curios. How would this pattern be if tied on a jig as the jig body?

[@McFlyAngler]

Probably great for conventional gear. LOL.

[@justin1979ify]

Have you ever tried using a sculpin head weight instead of the lead dumbbell?

[@McFlyAngler]

Yes... it works

[@j.taylor7361]

I tied this fly up and tested it in a sink full of water to check the action. The ‘claws’ didn’t really stay separated or have individual movement in the water. Is there a mod I can do to make the claws flare out or something? Maybe a little wad of dubbing or something?

[@McFlyAngler]

Yes, for in some dubbing between them if you want them to flair more. Then tie up tight to the dubbing ball. It will cause the claws to flair.

[@j.taylor7361]

@@McFlyAngler Thanks!

[@chasingthefish9042]

Sick

[@McFlyAngler]

👍

[@Nik-gh6gz]

Can we get one more of those guppy flies next? Haha

[@McFlyAngler]

Which?

[@Nik-gh6gz]

McFly Angler It would be funny If your made a streamer that looks like your guppies in your tanks

[@McFlyAngler]

Oh ok

[@Nik-gh6gz]

McFly Angler im jk haha

[@karmenmua4547]

A really great easy new cray fish pattern is called Themiteycray. It’s created by the fly fishing you tuber miteyquin and has caught me some good fish. Look up is vid and try it! It’s amazing

[@McFlyAngler]

New patterns are created all the time

[@karmenmua4547]

True haha it is art! Love your videos!

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks

[@JohnDozierSr50]

Have you fish this pattern and how did it do?

[@McFlyAngler]

I’ve caught a few decent bass yes

[@catonhlee]

Do you do custom fly orders?

[@McFlyAngler]

Yes, do you have Facebook or Instagram? If so, contact me on there and we can discuss whatcha want.

[@catonhlee]

@@McFlyAngler I just sent you a dm on Instagram.

[@McFlyAngler]

Cool man I’ll check in a minute

[@scotthayes8602]

Looks great, I bet it'll get HAMMERED.

[@RustyShacklefardd]

Smallmouth killer

[@McFlyAngler]

Thanks, yes works great for smallies

[@RustyShacklefardd]

McFly Angler can you recommend a good bobbin?

[@McFlyAngler]

Yeah, this is my favorite one. It’s not cheap but it works great! amzn.to/2xJCUF2