Sunday. A "Crabby Kind of Day!"

A cold and lazy Sunday up here in Michigan so I flipped on some beach music and went to the vise. Tied up two crab patterns. Did a step by step for one of them and just some pictures of the other, however, I will post a link of a great tying video for it.


The first is a "Coupon Crab". Found a "how to" for this pattern online @ fishbuzz tv. 


Hook: Gamakatsu SL12S 1/0
Thread: Chartreuse 3/0
Tail: Chartreuse Marabou, Pearl Flash-a-bou, Green Grizzle Saddle Hackle, Chartreuse Saddle Hackle
Body: Saddle Hackle
Eyes: Red Mono


Step 1: Begin thread above barb of hook and make small thread base to keep marabou from slipping. Select two marabou feathers and attach them to the hook. For this size hook they are about an 1" long. 

Step 2: Add 2-3 strands of pearl flash-a-bou. Select two pieces of the green-grizzly hackle and chartreuse saddle hackle. Measure hackle (about 1.5 times hook shank) and trim. Attach one chartreuse hackle and one green-grizzly hackle to each side of the hook. Tie down and head cement.

Step 3: Add red mono eyes. I made these myself. Burn 20lb hard mason line to form "eye" and paint. Tie on to each side of the hook.

Step 4: Attach a white saddle hackle butted up against the tail. Choose a hackle feather with good "webby" feathers at the base. Palmer forward while stroking fibers towards the eyes. Tie off and cut hackle when you get past the "webby" portion. 

Step 5: Attach chartreuse saddle hackle with good webby base in front of the white hackle. Palmer chartreuse hackle forward just like we did with the white in step 4. Form head, whip finish, and head cement.