Tying a Crayfish Fly

I used to give fly tying demonstrations in fly shops and the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum. Here's a pattern that I came up with and have been fishing for about 25 years.

[@MVPTimothyMichaels]

Here we have an excellent video on how to tie a crayfish fly. Being an old timer tier myself, I have been messing with crayfish patterns for quite some time now and intend to incorporate some of your designs into my own concoction. With your calming voice and slow tempo words I found myself relaxing more and more. It was like being in my small aluminum boat on my favorite lake with the same results of relaxation without catching any fish. The fact is that I found your video just as I finished a dissertation with my wife of how I should not clean trout in the kitchen sink. Your calm words brought my blood pressure down from 205 / 110 to 60 /30. You must be the fly doctor! Thanks much. And please don't tell my wife I said this.

[@mr.robinson1982]

You need to build a "fish cleaning station" out back near the outside water faucet. Running water & porch lights when necessary greatly improve your chances of getting all the damn scales off when cleaning your fish. My Dad had an awesome one that I have replicated, but mine is collapsible so I can store during winter. They make short lengths of hose that you can turn into a faucet.

[@yoshitomikakazu1124]

Please

[@yoshitomikakazu1124]

Please

[@melissaspake7727]

Lol! This gave me a good laugh. My hubby and I have had similar ‘conversations’. Of course I love fishing and eating the fish as much as he does, just prefer the nastiness not in my kitchen. Have a blessed day

[@randellgribben9772]

best crayfish i have seen here... thank you

[@ejmacewan8942]

W O W ,, VERY,, VERY WELL DONE… THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND PASSION THAT YOU BRING TO THOUSANDS OF US,,, GREAT CREATIVITY,,,,,, PLEASE BE SAFE AND HEALTHY,, TXS AGAIN WELL DONE…

[@hawleygriffin1800]

So I am an old fisherman, but new to fly fishing. This is the first fly that I've tied myself that I've actually caught smallmouth bass on. Thanks for posting this. It's very clear and easy to follow. Greatly appreciated!

[@northerngm6431]

Great video! I started my fly tying journey when I was 14, tied till I was 17 and then found "other interests" now after I've retired at 62 I've taken it up again, times and methods sure have changed, I'm glad I watched your video, it has shown me I need to educate myself on the new techniques, thanks!

[@michaelrafa100]

This is one of the very best fly tying videos I have seen. The video is shot from the tyer's perspective and it is very apparent that Peter has tied this fly many, many times in the past. The editorial comments are appropriate and the instructional information is well thought out and very meaningful as the fly is being tied. I for one would love to see more of these from Peter.

[@kurzhaarguy]

I’ve watched this several times now. This is master-class tying. Love the pattern. Really thoughtful. Real tying.

[@LRGregg13]

For the aesthetics alone this fly is amazing! I can't wait to tie one and try it out locally on largemouth and seeing what other fish luck my present me...nicely done sir.

[@jonathancristole6074]

Thank you, great video, great instructor, and no annoying 5 minute self promotional flashy obnoxious intro. Best kind of KZbin videos; Straight to the point. Great fly.

[@ozzarks]

I am just getting into tieing jigs for Crappie, I am so glad I found your video.... it inspired me to not be afraid to get creative. Thank you for such a well done tutorial, I will watch and save any videos you have. THANK YOU, Nick

[@kennethsanders963]

you can also use "dirty bug yarn ,it comes in 2 strands. What a cool pattern Peter I have been tying for 55+YRS.. AND YOUR FLY IS BY FAR THE BEST I'VE SEEN .I have all the material you use and I will definitely be tying a bunch of these up .Thanx so much. Tight lines from Ken in Calgary Alberta Canada.✌

[@gary2goins]

Best video of fly tying i have seen. I'm a beginner of tying but I will master this crayfish thanks to you.

[@jeffnelson2197]

Thank you for sharing your considerable skills! This is an AWESOME fly!

[@rhodesiansneverdie5376]

Very creative and accurate looking pattern, thank you!

[@raymondfryar1533]

You make it look so easy. Great job, thanks for the lesson.

[@paulwilson3339]

this guy is a master at what he does and makes it so simple to follow

[@philipmorrill8636]

Very well done Peter. I can't wait to try this pattern on some bass.

[@fredfable5655]

Incredible pattern!! What a beautifull job!!!

[@justmyopinion6486]

Your an artist, very informative, Thanks for your time and instruction.

[@ibsent]

Great pattern and instructions. I was looking for a good crayfish pattern when I came across you video. Thanks for posting.

[@fancypelusa2863]

Simply excellent tie - Well done and thanks!

[@crayster3926]

Very cool Peter! You die a great crawfish fly. 6 thumbs up from the guys of Crayster.

[@jimdidonato1246]

Not only is the pattern very nice, but you did a great job producing the video. Thanks a bunch!

[@Gator_Bait_Motorsports]

This is definitely going in my fly collection! Being a SCUBA diver in Indiana, one of our fun things to do is feed the fish. It doesn't take long to have several bluegill, sunfish and bass following you around waiting for a free meal. I turn over rocks and dig in the sediment to roust our craws and other morsels they love. The fish go on the attack of craws, grabbing them in the middle and folding them in half and gulping them down one fast motion. The craw doesn't have a chance with a half dozen fish trying to grab it at the same time. Thank you for the video!

[@felixsaunders5412]

This is the most relaxing thing to watch awesome video!!!

[@dirtydozenonthefly-kylecha9500]

Great pattern for the small/micro sized crawdads! Love it👊🏽👊🏽👌🏽

[@alexblair9047]

Very instructive nicely done thank you for sharing a great help for me can't wait to do my first...stay well happy fishing

[@cepaasch]

Very nice fly pattern. While I was watching I thought "He must have taught fly tying at some point". Sure enough. Thank you for the Demo!!!

[@PamelaBrandonChromeFoto]

Beautiful technique for such a delicate fly.

[@joywhitlock2985]

Thamks for the tutorial. Now I can tie a crayfish pattern I have confidence in.

[@gdm4584]

This is by far the best demo I've seen, thank you.

[@Austin-mw2hq]

Very professional, I like how you explained everything and when it came to the materials you gave us the names and everything! Great job keep up the great videos!

[@Tepeecreative]

Great job! Can't wait to round up the materials to try this one.

[@jeffjackson5331]

Thats a pretty cool fly. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@elduderoony8171]

What a super fly..... I’m definitely going to try my hand at this! Probably won’t look quite like yours but I’ll practise! lol. Thank you for the demonstration dude.

[@thegreatders344]

Not only functional, but a work of art!

[@idmooseman]

That fly looks amazing. Not sure when I'll tie it, but it is definitely something I will attempt at some point.

[@woopiflyer6836]

Great fly and very well explained. Within my capabilities, shall be tying some.

[@phoult37]

The pattern is great but even better are all the little tips you give about general tying techniques! I picked up several things from just this video; thanks!

[@NewEnglandStreamers]

Seriously love the way this one came out nice work man! Very realistic!

[@dannyrock5919]

Nice details Peter, I like the material and the simularity is mighty nice too, I'll try tying it.

[@hankvana2149]

Thanks for sharing Peter! A very nice tie.

[@randychappell5955]

Very nice variation. I've never seen this one. Very nice. Nicely done as well.

[@jamesphillips2216]

That was incredible! So much detail so much information!! That is the most realistic crawfish pattern I’ve ever seen. Well above my tying experience but it’ll be my goal!! Thank so much for sharing! New subscriber with the bell notification on! You sir are incredible!!

[@ipod1978]

Fantastic pattern

[@FishfryOGMcTaco]

Absolutely frickin amazing. Very nice!

[@AlMasonAsphalt]

Love this video! Completely new to fly tying, not new to fishing. I haven't ever tied even one fly yet but I'm starting to do research and gather the necessary tools and materials. I'm actually not a trout or fly fisher but a small mouth bass angler . The wife and I fish the creeks, rivers and streams in the Ozarks . We usually fish from the bank or from our sit on top kayaks. We've had the best luck with live bait, specifically night crawlers and crayfish. We don't have much luck with any store bought artificial lures. My wife actually had the good idea for us to start making our own flies/lures for small mouth kayak fishing. So we're now starting the first steps in our new hobby . Thanks for the great video!

[@petercollin5670]

I can't tell you how many smallies I have caught on this pattern!

[@henrybennett3496]

Thanks for such a great video. I had been looking for an easy to learn crayfish pattern. I made a couple of these this afternoon, but using a thin strip of doritos packet instead of swiss and peacock hurl rather than pheasant tail for antenna and legs. It will work for perch, chub, pike and I bet it's good for saltwater too.

[@dsmtnr95]

thats a super creative way to make some crayfish eyes. great idea.

[@Ediddy03211]

Fantastic pattern and easy to learn/tie. I think I might try going a bit bigger with a pre-weed guard hook. Great work.

[@crowejr77]

Wow!! What a beauty. Thanks for the great lesson. Would like to see more. 513

[@nicolelewis1828]

Wow! This is a great video and fly. Peter, thank you for sharing this. We have oodles of crayfish around here in the Ottawa Valley! I'm going to be following this pattern! I use sharpies to colour my scud back. :-)

[@chrisjelfs9738]

Top marks for this fly and the video. Thank You

[@martineaubrosoutdoors5318]

Nice work! Thanks for the great video

[@stevendavies7035]

that is a brilliant fly I am going to give that a try great video

[@miguelgoizueta7103]

This is a WELL tied fly!!

[@WSFScotland]

This is exactly what I have been looking for!!! Super pattern and thanks for sharing it!

[@petercollin5670]

Thanks! I was just looking through your channel. You have some nice videos. (I am a guitar player too, so I appreciate the jams!). I noticed that you tie the Clan Chief. That is a fly I use for steelhead. It isn't well known in the US. I got it from Charles Jardine's book. I also noticed that you tie the Kate McClaren and Goat's Toe which I also learned from his book. I subscribed to you, and invite you to check out my otehr fly tying and guitar videos!

[@WSFScotland]

@@petercollin5670 hi! Thanks for answering! Most of the flies on my channel are variants that I have either come up with or find work better. Your crayfish fly is exactly what I have been looking for! I live in Austria and our main fishing river has a healthy population of the wee buggers. The trout definitely eat them and I have a sneaking suspicion that a crayfish pattern might bring out the bigger residents. Glad you enjoyed my videos. All the best from Vienna!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇦🇹🐟👍

[@SattaBoysOutdoors]

I'm going to attempt to time a few of these, but killer fly tying skills Peter.

[@andrewjochum4814]

Nice video Peter! Came across this as I was looking for a crayfish video. I was pleasantly surprised to hear you mention the Brokenstraw. I believe you are talking around Youngsville, PA which is where we used to go out on opening day of trout season. I now own a cabin on the Tionesta in Henry’s Mills near Sheffield.

[@stryker2764]

Hi Peter..That's a beautiful specimen! We have crayfish in a few of our trout lakes here in Western Canada. So I'm going to tie me a few of them beauties and I'll even send you a pic. Thanks for the formidable instructions! Ann

[@petercollin5670]

Please do! [e-mail]

[@survivorjohnny44]

That looks so good I want to boil it up myself. Nicely done brother

[@kinzuabri4411]

Thumbs up from Pittsfield. Still great water. Nice cray!

[@azcharlie2009]

That is an awesome fly!

[@phillipimsdahl3563]

beautiful can't wait to find the material and tie one.

[@kurzhaarguy]

Much easier to see technique recorded from tyer’s perspective. I hail from northern Wisconsin and, like Pennsylvania, all rivers and creeks have ‘dads. Super effective late winter and early spring.

[@ryansumners3153]

Great pattern!

[@robertperman8967]

Very nice! Tight lines🕷️🐜🐛

[@richarddvll]

awesome pattern thanks for shareing

[@rabbithole_flies]

Nice Peter!! 👏👏👏👏

[@RickyD1968]

Really cool fly !!!

[@RobCaza]

Wow buddy you make that look so easy and so perfect I hope mine will turn out that good I'm just getting all the material and I'm going to try making some crayfish fly's

[@cleekmaker00]

Is this a Fly for fishing, or is it Art? Beautiful but effective & deadly, I bet. Fantastic!

[@TheFrugalFlyRodder]

Very nice tie Pete... I use to tie a similar one called the Swannadaze crayfish. Smallmouth love 'em. I think I like yours better.

[@richardduvall6512]

Great looking tie

[@paulmerritt7540]

Great looking pattern Peter! I think I'll borrow some of your materials to incorporate into my own style of crayfish pattern. They are very deadly! By the way, I might recommend to coat the lead wraps with cement before adding the rest of the materials to the fly :)

[@miguelaalicea988]

Nice work!

[@screwedagain1]

Love the fact that your pattern was tied with traditional materials. Haven't heard anyone mention Swiss straw in years.

[@petercollin5670]

screwedagain1 I prefer using colored latex strips. But that material dry rots in your drawer, and in your fly box. Want to find a material that I like as much but can last indefinitely and can withstand the fish's teeth.

[@fishriver5362]

Looks awesome

[@PaintballShyguy]

Very nice, I'm gonna have to try it. 👍🏻

[@kurzhaarguy]

Nice pattern!

[@kjoutdoors6525]

This is really neat

[@Obi1kenobi10]

Great video!!!

[@mikekuczynski1552]

Nice crayfish pattern:-)

[@Machster10]

Good looking pattern. This is a good light color that the smaller crayfish really are. Lighter color crays work better because they are either young or molted. Fish relish a molted cray since the shell is soft.

[@Sittin.]

Very interesting pattern :)

[@melissaspake7727]

I was about to ask what kind of pheasant lol, this is a great looking fly. I need to order some of the straw. I am really allergic to latex so I have not ordered scud back out of fear, but I can see I could use that as an alternative! I love your videos. You are so thorough and explain each step so clearly. I truly appreciate it.

[@jimholland1592]

Nicely done , I gonna tie up some👍

[@vangarcia419]

Beautifully Done..

[@ecl5]

Very nice pattern! That would be worth about $20 per fly with the amount of work that goes into it! :)

[@johnconnolly3635]

Super job!

[@thrustprop67]

that is really a good fly .

[@josephburdell2041]

Thankyou for such an informational video i had to download load it so i can make a few when i get the mylar and what was the brown tie off string you used on it a list of products needed to tie it would be AWESOME

[@ericstapelfeld3484]

Thanks for the video works great

[@keithleboeuf9036]

That is awsome i'm in south louisiana so i'll be learning to tie this when my tools and stuff come in. Thanks for the lesson..

[@pamela8570]

Very beautiful

[@debraleonard8841]

Excellent!

[@robbiesflytyingchannel]

Very nice!

[@hallutz8743]

I don't know if you came up with the monofilament eyballs but that is a great idea.

[@jamesvatter5729]

I find this mono eyeball technique much better than the "barbell style."

[@manuelfranciscosuarezgonza9814]

Excellent.