Crab Flies

[texasproud11]

Alright, I'm thinking that I have got to start tying some crab flies to add to my saltwater box. (So far I've got seaducers, redfish crack, and clousers). I'm sort of newb to tying and some of you guys are artists on the vice. So, any recommendations for some deadly, but good starter crab flies?

[Kayak Kid]

I certainly ain't no artist on the tying vice. Matter of fact, I tie some pretty ugly flies. Be that as it may, the fish seem to really like to eat them. Probably just to make me feel better and not embarrass me with my fishing partners.

You might try one of the Merkins to start off with. Tying instructions are readily available on the internet. Remember that the most prevalent crab along the Gulf Coast is the blue crab, so be sure to incorporate a little blue and a little red.

[texasproud11]

I've researched the merkin but they seemed to be oriented to clear water permit. Is their anything you change to make it more Texas bay specific?

[MirrodineEC]

The merkin crab will work on any saltwater fish that eats crabs! Especially Reds

[Kayak Kid]

I've always had better luck with Permit when using a large spawning shrimp pattern. However, Merkins are a popular permit fly.

My go-to flies for Texas marsh reds does not include crab flies. I have better luck in our, usually murky water, with flies that move more water........,whistlers and such. However, when fishing the clear flats near Arroyo City I have excellent luck with spoon flies.

[Animal Chris]

I've had good luck (back when I had time to fish) with Kwan's. All depending on how you trim them, they can double as a shrimp or a crab.

[Woody Creek]

There is a step by step recipe in the February/March issue of Fly Fisherman by Charlie Craven starting on page 56. If you can tie egg patterns than you can tie this.

Woody

[texasproud11]

Can I find that online?

[Woody Creek]

Well……. I couldn’t find anything online except pictures. It’s a Drew Chicone pattern called Mcfly crab.

Woody

[Kayak Kid]

I've had good luck (back when I had time to fish) with Kwan's. All depending on how you trim them, they can double as a shrimp or a crab.

Heya Animal, how ya doin'? Darn fella, it's been 12 freakin' years since our shared Slowride fishing class adventure.

I think it was you who introduced that kwan fly to me........, in, I think, 05. I tied up several and tried them on bonefish in Ascension Bay. Caught my share of bones, with it, and boated a couple of permit. Don't know why I stopped using that pattern. It casts well in a wind, and, depending on the retrieve method, it can be fished as a crab or a small minnow.

[eightweight]

You've got to start tying some Merkins, of course. I tie a lot of them. I don't really fish them much. But still, I tie flies.

I think the two most important things in tying Merkins:
(1) A very sharp pair of scissors. Buy a new pair and dedicate them, only use them for trimming and shaping crab flies.
(2) The right yarn. I use the acrylic latch hook rug yarn you can find in hobby lobby, made by M.C.G Textiles. It's precut to convenient lengths. I split each twisted piece down to 2 strands for a size 4 crab, to keep the bulk down.

Surprising how important these things are, it really makes a difference.

[eightweight]

And yes, add a long polar fiber tail, bar it with a marker, and you've got a version of a Kwan.

[eightweight]

Merkin fly and a real mud crab. (The fly is the one at the top of the picture.)

[Animal Chris]

Heya Animal, how ya doin'? Darn fella, it's been 12 freakin' years since our shared Slowride fishing class adventure.

I'm still hanging in there, like everyone else in the oil industry. I'll be hauling the travel trailer down to Rockport in a couple of weeks and leaving it there through the fall. Hoping to get some fishing in while it's down there. At the very least, I'll make it over to AP and mess with Slowride every chance I get.

How are things with you? well I hope. Take care and keep your eyes on the horizon!

Tight lines, Chris

[Woody Creek]

Alright, I'm thinking that I have got to start tying some crab flies to add to my saltwater box. (So far I've got seaducers, redfish crack, and clousers). I'm sort of newb to tying and some of you guys are artists on the vice. So, any recommendations for some deadly, but good starter crab flies?

As I was looking for a recipe for the Mcfly pattern I came across three of Drew Chicone’s books, Feather Brain, Essential Bonefish Flies and Essential Permit Flies. I down loaded these from Amazon Kindle. All three have excellent step by step photos and instruction to tie various bait fish, crab, and shrimp imitations. Essential Permit Flies has 5 crab patters, The Rag Head Crab, The Kung Fu Crab, The McCrab, The Bottle Cap Crab and The Inverted Merkin Crab. The recipe for The Bottle Cap Crab comes closest to the Mcfly pattern, except use ultra chenille in place of fly line for the legs and claws, after those is tied in instead of using 2mm sheet foam for the body tie in a healthy bunch of McFlyfoam and trim to shape.

Woody

[Animal Chris]

As I was looking for a recipe for the Mcfly pattern I came across three of Drew Chicone’s books, Feather Brain, Essential Bonefish Flies and Essential Permit Flies. I down loaded these from Amazon Kindle.

Check out Drew's book "Redfish Flies". He's got a couple of dandy crab patterns in there as well.

We had Drew as the Featured Tyer at the Texas FlyFishers Annual Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival back in February and, on top of being an extremely talented fly designer / tyer, he's also a great guy.

Sign up for his website, saltyflytying.com for more great tips and patterns.

[Woody Creek]

As I was looking for a recipe for the Mcfly pattern I came across three of Drew Chicone’s books, Feather Brain, Essential Bonefish Flies and Essential Permit Flies. I down loaded these from Amazon Kindle.

Check out Drew's book "Redfish Flies". He's got a couple of dandy crab patterns in there as well.

We had Drew as the Featured Tyer at the Texas FlyFishers Annual Dr. Ed Rizzolo Fly Tying Festival back in February and, on top of being an extremely talented fly designer / tyer, he's also a great guy.

Sign up for his website, saltyflytying.com for more great tips and patterns.

The local shops don’t have Drew’s Redfish Flies in stock nor is it available on Kindle, yet, but before I buy it I’d like to see the index page. Chris could please list the fly patterns that are in the book.

Woody

[Woody Creek]

Found what I was looking for on Drew’s website. Turns out all of his books are available for down load.

http://www.saltyflytying.com/ebooks.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here are the fly patterns in Redfish Flies.
Kung Fu Blue Crab
Fiddle Sticks Crab
Pine Island Ice Tea
Budagrassy Shrimp
The Rump Shaker
The Grass Monkey
The Gulf Shrimp
The Batman

Woody

[karstopo]

Messed around with some EP and came up with these, don't know how they will fish or cast. X small lead 1/60 oz. Dumbell to keep hook pointed up.

[Puck]

A poor knock off of Drew's crab.

[Doug Poudre]

http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/

Check out Charlie's Fly box for lots of patterns.

Sorry, I edited it.

Look for Del's Merkin in the fly box.

[susanto1228]

I used this video by TY to create mine
and they are very effective.

You can find the yarn at hobby lobby super cheap
or you can use ep fibers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVX_1wVopbo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[susanto1228]

@ Doug

I tried Charlie's link (Ive used it before) but I get an error...
did he change his address?

thanks

[nektgen]

Need more info
[img]http://freetspics.gq/12/o.png[/img]

[Woody Creek]

@ Doug

I tried Charlie's link (Ive used it before) but I get an error...
did he change his address?

thanks

I was getting an error too but thought it was a temporary problem. Try this link to his recipe list http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Woody