The 7 Best Crayfish Flies

Lobster dinners for freshwater fish: Theo's Dream, Clouser's Crayfish, Ryan's Soft-Shell Crayfish, Huz-Ur-Daddy, James's Outcast Crayfish, Full Motion Crayfish, and Near Nuff Crayfish.

February 19, 2025 By Stephen May

This article originally appeared in the March 2006 issue of Fly Fisherman.

I was enjoying a beautiful early summer day on my favorite river. The morning action was slow and no insects were hatching. I approached some new water where a clearly defined riffle plunged into a deep, boulder-studded run.

As I was walking through the cool clear water a couple of crayfish scurried for cover. I opened my fly box and saw a crumpled crayfish pattern sitting on top of the neat rows of streamers and nymphs. It was left over from a bass trip, but it got me thinking–do trout eat these?

I tied the fly on, lobbed it into the run, and drifted it through the head of the pool near some scattered boulders. A couple casts later, just as the fly drifted through the sweet spot, my strike indicator dipped below the surface.

After the fish vaulted two feet above the surface with a powerful surge, a beautiful bronze- and golden-flanked brown trout just under 20 inches long came to my hand. This was my first, though certainly not my last, encounter with trout eating crayfish patterns.

The fact that crayfish patterns catch fish is no secret. Anglers, especially smallmouth bass fishermen, have used imitations of these little crustaceans for decades. Trout, panfish, and carp also relish these abundant food items that are found in many rivers and lakes throughout North America.

Crayfish Biology

Understanding crayfish behavior will help you fish these patterns better. Crayfish (also called crawdads, crawfish, and mud lobsters) are closely related to lobsters, and are widespread throughout North America. The Great Lakes region, the Midwest, and the southern states hold the largest populations. They are found in some Rocky Mountain and southwestern rivers, though they are not nearly as common there.

There are over 300 species of these crustaceans in North America, but knowing the species isn't really that important when you are trying to imitate it. What is important is knowing about their life cycle.

Young crayfish hatch early in the spring and grow steadily throughout the summer. Catch a few when you are fishing to see what the predominant size is. Size is more important than color when it comes to fly selection.

A crayfish on the bottom of a river among rocks. — Fish crayfish patterns close to a rocky bottom or near structure with occasional movements to mimic the behavior of a natural. Real crayfish forage for food under small rocks and vegetation, but can quickly escape danger with one kick of their tail. Patterns that breathe in the water like the Full Motion Crayfish fished with a strip-pause retrieve are perfect for imitating this action.

Early in the summer, the young crayfish are an inch or less long. They are usually light in color and inhabit shallow areas near cover. This time of year, I like to fish areas of current near expansive rock flats with patterns like Theo's Dream, Clouser's Crayfish, or similar small imitations. Because these crayfish are so small and light, they are occasionally swept away in the current, so fishing a #8-10 crayfish imitation in early summer is productive for trout, bass, panfish, and carp. As the summer progresses and the crayfish grow, increase the size of your imitation. Crayfish molt several times a year, and when they do, they are vulnerable. As crayfish grow, they shed their hard exoskeletons that become too small, leaving them defenseless with soft shells for a few days until their new shells harden. Because younger crayfish grow so rapidly/ their first year, this can happen eight or ten times a season. They also cannot swim well with a soft shell or use their claws to defend themselves against hungry predators. While they progress through this phase they are aggressively eaten by fish simply because it is less work. A crayfish full of fight with a hard shell and nasty claws takes time and energy for a fish to tackle. A molting crayfish is dinner in one gulp. A soft-shell crayfish is lighter in color than one with a hard shell, so fish pat terns that are lighter in color than the crayfish you see to imitate this vulnerable stage.

There are times when large bass and trout will attack huge crayfish regardless of the hardness of their shells, but given a choice they eat small crayfish more readily especially those with smaller claws. So when you are designing your flies, remember you are trying to impress fish with nice little claws-not impress your fishing buddies with realistic giant claws. Crayfish under 1 1/2 inches, including the claws, are fair game for any fish you would want to hook up with.

Crayfish live on the bottom and forage under rocks and around vegetation. They generally crawl along and are only occasionally swept downstream in the current. However, when alarmed they use the powerful muscle in their tails to quickly swim backward. They can travel in short bursts until they are out of harm's way, but they do eventually settle back on the bottom. This activity leaves them exposed and vulnerable to hungry fish, and on a few occasions I've seen brown trout, carp, and small mouth t1ush crayfish from cover and chase them.

When it comes to crayfish patterns, I am surprised at how many popular flies are not well designed. Some flies have huge claws coming out of the fly's head and float or drift with the hook pointed down, ready to snag the first piece of debris it encounters. Despite this, crayfish are such an important food item on many rivers, and fish see so few imitations, that they will hit a mediocre imitation with surprising regularity. Once you start using well-proportioned crayfish patterns, your success will surely increase, and you will always have a few patterns in your fly box ready for action. Good crayfish patterns are designed differently than other flies. They get to the bottom quickly and resist snagging on rocks and logs. The pattern also has to have the profile and general color of the real thing and act like a real crayfish on a typical fly-fishing retrieve. To do this I recommend using materials that hold their shape under water and also provide some natural movement. Hen saddle feathers are common for crayfish claws as are squirrel tail and looped hackles, but for the most movement, rabbit strips are tough to beat.

A lot of good crayfish patterns have started to come out of the woodwork the past few years. The following are excellent patterns that have evolved from waters around the country that may be able to help you on your local waters.

Full Motion Crayfish. This is a pattern I developed with the help of my close friend and fellow guide Ken Collins of Grand River Troutfitters. It looks and acts like a crayfish in the water, and because of its hourglass eyes it gets down to where the crayfish live.

Since crayfish crawl along the rocks, that is where your t1y should be the majority of the time. I like to use heavy hourglass eyes tied to the top of the hook shank on most of my crayfish patterns so they ride hook point up and don't snag the bottom. I tie this pattern with smaller, lighter eyes for shallow water and heavier eyes for deep water or areas with more current. When in doubt, go with eyes that are heavier than you think you need because the rest of the fly is more buoyant than a sparsely tied Clouser Minnow.

A smallmouth bass with a crayfish fly in its mouth, held in the surface water of a swift stream. — Smallmouth bass love crayfish. Because crayfish can molt up to eight times a year, find a live specimen to make sure your pattern matches the prevalent size of the naturals. (Stephen May photo)

I tie this pattern inverted and back ward so the bulky part and legs stick out near the hook bend. The slender abdomen occupies the bulk of the hook shank. The tail has a natural flare at the front of the hook just like a natural.

I use Zonker strips and rubber legs, two materials that are well suited to imitate crustaceans' movement. If you watch crayfish in the water, they always seem to move their legs and antennae.

Furry Foam works great for the profile and shell back of a crayfish. This material is easy to work with, soft, and makes a realistic shell for a crayfish imitation.

Huz-Ur-Daddy. This pattern is a popular Western pattern designed by Dane Huzarski. It imitates large crayfish well, and the bold profile and flashy body help fish key on it.

James's Outcast Crayfish. The Outcast Crayfish created by Ian James is the easiest to tie of the patterns listed here, and you won't have second thoughts about throwing it into tight spots or dragging it along the bottom. The rabbit-fur claws provide excellent action, and it has been used to catch a variety of fish species. James's favorite gamefish-carp-are especially fond of this pattern.

Ryan's Soft-shell Crayfish. Will Ryan created this pattern in the Northeast, mainly for lake fishing. However, it does a great job imitating soft-shell crayfish in a variety of water types. It has many lifelike attributes, is easy to tie, and is deadly when bounced or dragged along the bottom.

Theo's Dream. This is one of the original bead-head creations from Theo Bakelaar and an excellent imitation of newly hatched crustaceans. I use this on a nymph rig on my home river through early June when certain areas of the river are polluted with newborn crayfish. The added bonus of this fly is that it also imitates sow bugs and other nymphs that fish frequently see.

Clouser Crayfish. Bob Clouser's Crayfish is one of my favorites. This fly is tied unweighted or lightly weighted, allowing it to tumble naturally in the current with a realistic profile. There are two versions: one with a turkey quill shell back and one with a Furry Foam shell back. Clouser uses the turkey quill shell back tied in smaller sizes for trout and the Furry Foam shellback on larger hooks for bass. This is the first crayfish pattern I fell in love with, and looking at my Full Motion Crayfish pattern you can see that I borrowed a lot of elements from this fly and the Clouser Minnow.

Whitlock's Soft-shell and Near Nuff. These patterns were designed in the Ozarks but catch fish throughout North America. Dave's Soft-shell Crayfish is a great pattern, but it takes too much time, patience, and skill to tie. Plus you have to come to terms with losing a few flies while fishing a boulder-studded run. I prefer to use patterns that are simpler to tie and thus easier to leave on the bottom of the river. However, Dave has addressed this issue with his Near Nuff Crayfish. This simple pattern is a real winner when fish are on the bite, and in my opinion it actually fishes better than the more intricate soft-shell pattern.

Crayfish Tactics

When fishing crayfish patterns I like to target deep runs, pools, and obstructions in rivers. Logs, deep pools, boulder-strewn runs, isolated big boulders, and cut banks are all good areas to swim a crayfish pattern.

In lakes, look for areas where deep water is close to structure. Fallen trees, gravel bars, and big boulders are sites where you can expect big fish to search for crayfish.

A blue-green translucent crayfish seen from above, on the rocks of a river's bed. — Soft-shell crayfish with small claws are the most vulnerable to fish. Patterns slightly lighter in color than a hard-shell natural, with short rabbit strips for claws work best. A fish is more likely to pursue a crayfish with tiny claws than one with a large set of menacing pinchers. (Ted Fauceglia photo)

To fish a weighted pattern in still water and slow river pools, simply cast your crayfish and wait for it to sink to the bottom. Use a sinking tip, full-sinking line, or a long leader with split-shot to make it easier to get the fly on the bottom. Once it is down, leave it there for a few seconds, and then slowly crawl it along the bottom with a hand-twist retrieve. If nothing strikes, give it an occasional short strip. Strikes when you are dragging your crayfish can be surprisingly subtle, so keep a tight line, and if you feel any tension, give it a short strip. This often sets the hook.

One of my favorite ways to fish a crayfish is with an indicator and more weight than I use when fishing small nymphs. Even though you're using an indicator, don't dead-drift the pattern. When they are not on the bottom, crayfish dart around in the current trying to escape predators. Cast the rig upstream and twitch the indicator after the fly sinks to the bottom. Most hits are solid and happen shortly after twitching the fly, but be prepared for fish that subtly suck in your imitation while it's motionless.

Another effective way to fish crayfish patterns in a river is to use a long leader and quarter your cast upstream. Let the fly sink, and use upstream mends to get it to the bottom. When it is deep enough, make a downstream mend and bring the pattern through the pool with a twitch pause retrieve. This will give you a deep swimming crayfish that looks like a helpless morsel to a big brown trout or bronzeback. This technique takes a little more finesse than using a nymph rig, but it offers more flexibility and depth control once you get the hang of it.

In deep, slow pools present crayfish with a wet-fly swing, occasionally twitching it. In the right water this is a deadly tactic. Active fish often sit in the deep part of a tailout waiting for food from the pool to drift by.

Crayfish are an important food item and quite tasty for both fish and anglers alike. Keep a handful of patterns that imitate these important food items tucked in the corner of your bass, trout, and panfish boxes.

Crayfish Fly-Tying Recipes

Full Motion Crayfish

A crayfish fly in a vise. — Full Motion Crayfish. (David J. Siegfried photo)

HOOK: #4-6Tiemco 200R.
THREAD: Brown 6/0.
WEIGHT: Lead or lead-substitute hourglass eyes.
ANTENNAE: Black Krystal Flash.
TAG: Orange Antron and rabbit fur.
SHELL BACK: Brown Furry Foam.
EYES: Mono eyes (optional).
CLAWS: Tan Zonker strips.
BODY: Tan Zonker strip.
LEGS: Silicone rubber legs.
RIB: Tying thread or fine wire.

Variations of the Full Motion Crayfish

The components of this crayfish design can be modified for different conditions. My version for especially clear water replaces the Zonker-strip claws with pheasant rump feathers and the rabbit-strip abdomen with dry-fly hackle.

For a mini-crayfish, I use extra small rubber legs, replace the Furry Foam shell back with Thin Skin, and substitute squirrel Zonker strips for the rabbit strips.

A largemouth bass version of this fly can be tied on a larger hook with a glass rattle in the abdomen. I've drawn some large bass out of cover with this design.