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A Lifelike Crayfish Imitation for Trout, Bass & More
The Seal Cray is a compact, bottom-crawling crayfish pattern designed to mimic the natural posture and motion of a juvenile crawdad. Tied on a jig hook with a prominent buggy body and natural materials, this pattern rides hook-point-up and delivers lifelike movement in current or still water. Perfect for smallmouth, trout, and warmwater predators.
Let’s go!
Materials Used:
• Hook: Firehole 523 Sticks Barbless Long-Shank Jig Hook (Sizes 4–8)
• Bead: Hareline 1/8″ Insta Jig Bead – Copper
• Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk 50D Thread – Rust
• Claws: Wapsi Micro Pine Squirrel Zonkers – Crawdad Orange
• Body: MFC Arizona Simi Seal Dubbing – Brown Brick
• Antennae: Fulling Mill Flex-Floss Micro – Brown
• Legs/ Accent: Hareline Crazy Legs – Root Beer w/ Fluorescent Orange Tips
Step-by-Step Tying Instructions:
Step 1: Slide on the Bead
Start by placing a 1/8″ copper Insta Jig Bead on the Firehole 523 hook. Mount it in your vise with the bead facing forward. Start your Nano Silk 50D thread just behind the bead and wrap back to the bend.
Step 2: Add the Claws
Trim two short strips of Micro Pine Squirrel Zonker in Crawdad Orange. Tie them in at the bend, splayed outward like natural pincers. These strips should extend slightly past the hook bend to mimic a crayfish’s defensive posture.
Step 3: Tie in the Antennae
Select a few strands of Fulling Mill Micro Flex-Floss in brown. Tie them in between the claws, extending slightly beyond. These thin antennae add realism and natural movement in the water.
Step 4: Build the Body
Dub a tight noodle of MFC Arizona Simi Seal in Brown Brick. Wrap forward in even turns, forming a tapered body that ends just behind the bead. The blend of fibers gives a buggy, textured appearance underwater.
Step 5: Add the Legs
Tie in a single strand of Hareline Crazy Legs on each side of the body. Use the Root Beer color with fluorescent orange tips to mimic crayfish legs and add a subtle hot-spot trigger. Adjust to hang naturally off the sides.
Step 6: Finish and Whip
Add a final touch of dubbing to cover any thread wraps. Whip finish behind the bead and apply a drop of head cement for durability.
Pro Tips:
- Fish the Seal Cray slowly along the bottom, hopping or crawling it near rocks and structure.
- This fly excels in late summer and fall when crayfish are most active.
- Jig hook keeps the fly upright and reduces snagging—perfect for rivers and lake edges.
Check out some of our favorite Fly Tying Gear:
- Vise – Dynaking Barracuda Deluxe Pedestal Vise
- Scissors – Kopter ABSOLUTE Blade Micro Serrated Edge Thin Point
- Bodkin – Dr. Slick Jumbo Carbon Fiber Bodkin
- Whip Finisher – Tiemco Midge Whip Finisher
- Tool Kit – Umpqua Dream Stream Plus 7 Piece Fly Tying Tool Kit
