June Fly Tying Get Together - Cripple Patterns

Cripple Patterns

This month we will take a look at cripple fly patterns.

This is the stage between nymph and dun or adult.

The nymph gets caught in the surface film or the wing 

case doesn't open or what ever, they are sitting ducks

for the trout. It is an easy meal for the fish as they can 

exert little energy for the protein.

 There are thousands of cripple patterns but to save 

time we will tie only two, the Mercer Missing Link and

a Green Drake Cripple.

Green Drake

Hook    Dry fly 10-12

Thread   dark olive

Shuck     dark olive/ brown  Z-lon or antron

Body       olive dubbing or marabou with

                 yellow thread or small wire ribbing

Wing        hair, mallard flank, CDC

Hackle     olive or grizzly yellow olive

Mercer's Missing Link

Hook          12-18 dry fly

Thread/abdomen    olive 6/0   (Turkey biot for abdomen option)

Rib              pearl krystal flash

Thorax        peacock color dubbing

Spent wing  gray Z-lon

Hackle         Lt tan or cree

Upper wing/head  beached elk