How to Tie a Simple Green Crab

Ryan is back to show us how to tie a New England style Green Crab Fly. Green Crabs are abundant in the waters of the Northeast and are a must-have in any Striper box.

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Local Maine guide and fly tyer Ryan Brod is back with us this week to show us how to tie a simple Green Crab pattern. This pattern is one of many that imitate the invasive shore crabs that are abundant within the marshes and beaches of New England. The Merkin-style body gives this fly a nice, thick profile that will undoubtedly catch the attention of stripers cruising the flats. You can't chase stripers without a couple of these in your box!

We've put together a kit that contains all the materials you need to tie this exact fly pattern.

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Materials:

Hook: Gamakatsu B10s (size 1)

Thread: UNI 6/0 (Chartreuse)

Eyes: Hareline Plain Lead Dumbbell Eyes (X-Large)

Tail: Hareline Strung Saddle Hackle (Tan)

Marabou: Hareline Extra Select Marabou (Olive)

Flash: Hedron Flashabou (Olive)

Body: EP Fibers - 3D (Olive)

Legs: Hareline Medium Grizzly Barred Rubber Legs (Olive)

Step 1 

Start your thread just behind the hook eye. Secure the XL Hairline Dumbbell Eyes using figure-8 wraps, then lock them down with a few circular wraps underneath.

Step 2

Wrap thread to the back of the shank. Select 4 equal-length strung saddle feathers. Tie 2 on each side, flaring them out to form the claws.

Step 3

Tie in 2 strands of Flashabou straight off the back of the hook shank. Trim so they are just shorter than the claw feathers.

Step 4

Select a single Olive Hairline Extra Select Marabou feather. Tie it in on the bottom of the shank so approximately 1 inch of fine marabou tips extend toward the back of the fly.

Step 5

Tie in Olive EP Fiber on one side of the shank. Pinch it and fold it over to the other side, tying it down to begin forming the body. Repeat this step 2 more times with the same amount of material.

Do this step 2 more times using the same amount of material and same technique to form the body of the crab.

Tip: Trim the excess and use it for the next tie in point.

Step 6

Add a single Crabby Leg to your EP Fiber clump and tie it in together, folding both over and securing on the other side of the shank. Repeat this step 3 more times — one Crabby Leg each time — combined with EP Fiber.

Step 7

After the last crabby leg tie-in, finish the body by repeating Step 5 one more time, just behind the dumbbell eyes.

Step 8

Bring the thread in front of the dumbbell eyes. Add 2–3 whip finishes, then apply a drop of super glue to the thread wraps for durability.

Step 9

Step 10

Trim the Crabby Legs to equal length when hanging. Do not leave them too long — excess length can cause fouling during the cast or retrieve.

Step 11