hi tail craw

This is a wild woolly bugger pattern variation with some notable differences.
The cool aspect of this fly is the foam butt that makes the hook end fly ride up. The jig hook used along with the barbell head weight, makes it ride upside down the somewhat weedless - like a stand up jig (which is basically what it is).

I picked it from fly fishing guru Tim Holschlag. I'm unsure whether he developed it or modified a similar pattern. Nonetheless, it can be a great crayfish pattern as it sinks quickly and rides in the water like the real thing.

Here's another variation from local fly tier Dave Kollmann:

Materials:

• Jig hook w/90 or 60 degree bend; or streamer hooks down turned eye - Size 4 - 8
• Claws: Rabbit Strip - orange
• Body Orange, Brown, or Olive chenille
• Brown body hackle (palmered stern to bow)
• Float: Foam material
• Dumbbell or barbell eyes, various weight, most common 1/16 oz.

Tying Instructions

1. Use the your favorite (or available) jig or streamer hook size #6 - #2
2. Use olive or brown thread.
3. Tie in barbell inside the bend, as shown.
4. Tie in a 1/4 inch wide piece of foam - just at the start of the bend.
5. Tie in a one inch long by 1/8 inch wide strip of rabbit fur on either side of the foam allowing the foam to act as a divider, splaying out the rabbit strips.
6. Tie in your hackle, try to match the body chenille color and the hackle color.
7. Bring the chenille forward and tie it down, just short of the barbell.
8. Palmer in your hackle starting with the small end and bringing the longer fibers toward the front of the fly.
9. Tie off with a small whip finish and epoxy or otherwise glue - or just leave it, like I do and wait for it to unravel; then swear.