Name of Fly: F-C Crackleback (Dry Wooley)
Tied by Phil Ames
Hook Size: #12 - #20
Style / Make: Dai-Riki #300 Dry Fly - fine wire
Thread: Color to match the body
Tying Materials:
1. Body - Feather Craft Dyed Turkey Rounds. Favorite colors Pale Yellow and PMD. I use tuff fiber feathers as dubbing. There are lots of colors to choose in the Feather-Craft Catalog.
2. Case - 2 Peacock herls for size #12 - #16. 1 herl for size #18 to #22
3. Hackle - Metz #2 Rooster Saddle, Furnace Brown
4. Rib - Optional, fine copper wire. I use this wire to reinforce the hackle and body.
5. Bead - Gold, copper, black, etc. Can be used for fishing on the bottom if desired.
Tying Procedure:
1. Insert a Dai-Riki #300 #12 hook in your vise. Start olive thread behind one eye length. Wind thread to start position above barb and back to the front. Cut and tie in a 4 in. piece of copper wire. On top of the wire tie in 2 peacock herls. Cover this material with thread and stop at the barb. Take a PMD tied turkey round in hand. Uses a bodkin at the base of the feather to pick out 6-7 fibers for Size 12, less if you go smaller. Cut close to the stem. At the top of the pointed feather cut off a small amount. Wind the thread forward to where the herl and wire are tied in. Half hitch. Insert the tip of the feather and tie the tip and stroke the fiber back. Trim fibers on sides of the stem and tie in above the barb. Dull side facing you. NOW THE FUN BEGINS.
2. This is where a rotary vise comes in handy. Use hackle pliers, insert turkey fibers, and wind forward making a nice dubbed body using your rotary vise. Tie and cut off excess behind the hook eye. Half hitch. Lay the peacock herl across the top and tie in. Cut off and half hitch. Wrap the hackle forward 3 to 5 turns depending on the hook size. Space wraps so body material is showing. Tie in and cut off. Half hitch. Counter wrap copper wire carefully hackle fibers 3 to 5 turns. Cut off. Form a thread head. Whip finish and cement head.
Comments: Fishing the F-C Crackleback
Ed Story of Feather-Craft in St. Louis, MO. Invented and has fished this fly since the late fifties. It is the number one fly used in Missouri, and sold at his catalog store. It can be fished as a dry using gel. I like using an across and down pattern, letting it drift. At the end lift your rod and let is skip on top. Hang On! You will get Hook Ups!
I have been fishing the Crackleback for 25 year in Missouri. Great Fly! Phil Ames.
