Nearly every freshwater fish eats crayfish. This fly was developed by guide Drew Price for Lake Champlain, a large lake that harbors everything from lake trout to gar. This fly has caught carp. bowfin, smallmouth and largemouth bass, freshwater drum, sheepshead, bluegills, pumpkinseed sunfish, lake trout–and yes it also works for trout in rivers.
Drew Price’s Champ Dad Crayfish Fly
Hook: Gamakatsu B10S or heavy jig hook, size 2-8
Thread: Orange or brown, 6/0
Eyes: 4mm (size M, 1/30th ounce, 1/8” diameter ), plain, black, or silver
Additional weight: 8 wraps of .030 non-toxic wire
Antennae: Two barred silicone legs, chestnut color
Shellback: Bronze or orange synthetic fiber
Dubbing: Senyo’s Laser Dub, dark tan
Claws: two rust chickabou feathers, webby hen saddle, or barred marabou feathers
Hackle: Burnt orange grizzly hen hackle or orange-dyed Hungarian partridge
Thorax hackle: Brown-dyed grizzly saddle hackle
Wire: Medium copper
Note—may be tied in tan or olive as well