Mole Fly by Charlie Craven

I have been fishing the Mole Fly for at least the last twenty years and it has become my go-to pattern for any small mayfly hatch. Its unusual “advanced” wing supports the fly on the surface while the body hangs below like that of a crippled or emerging mayfly. I invented this fly after experimenting with a variety of different CDC patterns. Some of the other ideas spawned during this process are the Loopwing Emerger and CDC Comparadun. Yup, I invented those too. The only problem is that a bunch of other people invented them too. All I can say is that great minds tend to run on the same track. At any rate, tie up some Mole flies and give them a try the next time you encounter tough tailwater fish and see if they don’t do the trick for you too.
Materials Needed:
Hook: #16-24 TMC 2487
Thread: Gray 8/0 Uni-Thread
Wing: 3 Strands White Fluoro Fibre and 2 natural Dun CDC feathers
Body: Brown Beaver dubbing

[@nt1334]

This is a killer on the Taylor!! Thanks for the video, keep em coming!

[@GM-tj7td]

All time go-to fly! Thanks for the video!

[@jakobee16]

One of my go to flies! I've tied about a 1000 of these!

[@ronmartin889]

Man... no one can get that nice of CDC any more.

[@CharliesFlyBox]

charliesflybox.com/products/swiss-cdc?_pos=2&_psq=swiss&_ss=e&_v=1.0

[@mountaincreekfliesjimmy8386]

Enjoyed this lesson thank you sir

[@EscalanteFlyFlipper]

A guy who sells materials telling people who to preserve materials. Nice!

[@3for5spotshooter]

And what a killer fly pattern...

[@3for5spotshooter]

About the best dry I've ever fished.. Spectacular.

[@martinmaggard3302]

Used these on the Big T caught a lot of rainbows and browns GREAT fly pattern

[@fredleroux6920]

Thank you for sharing 🙏

[@RandyB4111]

Thanks!

[@43lbcat]

Been waiting for this one

[@MarkusGreif]

Great Fly, thx

[@brianfeeney9493]

🎉 Dat MOLE got Soul 🎉 ✨🎣💫

[@chrisbukowski9434]

nice

[@christophertamburello3353]

Thanks for these videos. I’ve learned so much from you. I ordered a bunch of stuff to tie some jujubee midges. I was hoping you could answer on the mole fly if I were to use cdc puffs would I use one or two? Also, in terms of fishing it would you apply any floatant to the feathers? Thanks again for providing this content. Please keep it coming!

[@rjf1877]

Thanks Carlie, tried this on size 22 on the Truckee River and it was a killer !! I was wondering what color dubbing you would use for a Green Drake ? I imagine that the dubbing color is determined by the nymph color, correct ?

[@mobilecyclop7329]

Nice

[@allanpodell8681]

Appreciate your excellent videos. Have a question. I noticed that you wind your thread and tie in materials ‘counter clockwise’. Is this the way you learned, a way that is more comfortable for you, and is it the way you would recommend? Thanks again for all your quality tutorial videos.

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Allan Podell actually I don’t counter wrap at all. It seems a lot of these videos with the black background give the impression that the thread is coming toward me over the top of the hook but that’s not the case. I wrap over the top away from me and tie left handed with the camera on the far side of the fly from me. Sorry for the confusion!

[@allanpodell8681]

Thanks for that explanation and clearing up what was my confusion. Again, thanks for all the videos and for sharing your knowledge.

[@cachi-7878]

I would love to see your setup... If the camera is on your far side pointing at you, why then from our vantage point, we see a black background and not see you at all? What equipment do you use for lighting and camera/lens? Perhaps because your lens is set to a very narrow depth of field you become invisible. There is no glare whatsoever which makes for a perfect tying demonstration and soothing to the eye.

[@BP-1988]

Anyone tie this pattern on a Klinkhammer hook? If so, what has been your experience with it?

[@cachi-7878]

Any other colors these flies would be tied in? I’m thinking olive but I reckon Baetis emerges look different than the adult fly...

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Cachi - it’s offered one the original brown, a pmd version with a yellow dubbed collar as well as olive.

[@alfonsagelwei5280]

Will possum work on this fly. Does it have the sinking properties beaver has?

[@Ag-xy4gu]

Possum will work too,

[@jimslade]

Any thoughts about using snowshoe rabbit instead of the cdc?

[@rjf1877]

That is exactly what I was thinking !! I'd like to hear what Charlie thinks. I'm definitely going to try the snowshoe.

[@jeffcowles5328]

Was thinking of trying EP fibers too 🤔

[@johnstarr9218]

Bob Wyatt uses snowshoes foot. He suggest it's a lot more durable than CDC feathers. Personally, the snowshoe works great for me. @@rjf1877

[@jakobee16]

What kind of Beaver dubbing do you use in this video?

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Nature’s Spirit

[@Mike40867]

Your thorax is a sponge and after a while pulls whole fly under, sinks too much. Then if you hook up, it is a one and done. At yiour price you can keep it.

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Absolutely incorrect on every one of those statements.

[@CharliesFlyBox]

A bit of dry magic on the wing and a dry fly cloth to remove the fish slime after a catch and you’re good to go for the next one. Empirical knowledge here, not assuming.

[@glenndotter5065]

Sizes??

[@fredleroux6920]

If one doesnt have beaver dubbibg, could you maybe recommend another material

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Rabbit would work. Or any other natural dubbing that will saturate and allow the body to hang below the surface.

[@fredleroux6920]

@@CharliesFlyBox thank you ,much appreciated

[@Ag-xy4gu]

Possum would work great IMO.

[@mattlittle3330]

I use Wapsi Rabbit dubbing. I pick out any overly long guard hairs.

[@mikekuczynski1552]

Great fly , people as me what is that ? :-)