How to Tie the Big Nasty Crab Fly

Learn how to tie the Big Nasty Crab fly pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here.

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If you've done any flats fishing in the Northeast for Stripers, you've seen them cruising the flats searching for small baitfish, eels, and (of course) crabs. This is a phenomenal fly to throw at a cruising Striper on the flats and imitates a Green Crab, prevalent on the coast of the Northeastern US. It's a fun fly to tie, too. Tune in as Jared provides step-by-step instructions to tie a pattern that every Striper angler should have in their arsenal.

Materials:

• Daiichi 3847 Circle Wide Hook
• UNI Mono Thread
• Hareline Heavy Lead Eyes - Medium, Black
• Hareline Grizzly Soft Hackle Marabou Patch - Green
• EP Crustaceous Brush
• Hareline Magnum Barred Predator Legs - Pumpkin

Step One:

Start by tying in the Heavy Lead Eyes just behind the eye of the hook. You can use superglue to anchor the eyes in place. Tie them in with figure 8 wraps to hold them in place.

Step Two:

Next, tie in a plume of Marabou near the bend of the hook. Measure it so it extends roughly the length of the shank of the hook then tie it in on top of the hook and trim any excess materials.

Step Three:

Choose four feathers, two slightly wider than the other two, to use as claws for the crab. Tie the claws in on opposite sides of the hook shank pointing downward. When the crab is inverted in the water, the claws will angle upward in a defensive posture.

Step Four:

Next, tie in and wrap the Crustaceous Brush. Tie the brush in just in front of the claws and advance your thread to just behind the eye of the hook. Wrap the brush around the hook shank taking roughly 5 wraps and tie it off just behind the eye of the hook. Use your fingers to spread the brush as wide as possible to create the profile of the crab. Helicopter the excess brush off.

Step Five:

Push the brush fibers rearward and use your thread to clean up the heavy lead eyes and the eye of the hook. You can use your bodkin to manipulate the brush to get it where you want it.

Step Six:

Use superglue or UV epoxy to enforce the profile of the crab and to hold the fibers in place.

Step Seven:

Put some epoxy in the middle and on the sides of the brush then use your fingers to spread it.

Step Eight:

Next, tie in the rubber legs. Cut the rubber legs in half and tie them in just behind the heavy lead eyes. Use a figure 8 wrap to anchor the legs on either side of the hook. Trim the legs to the desired length and throw a whip finish.

Step Nine:

Again, use UV epoxy to reinforce the head of the fly and to hold the rubber legs in place.

Step Ten:

Finally, trim the sides of the fly to create a rounded crab profile. And that's it! That's the Big Nasty Crab, a great pattern for Stripers in the Northeast or any predatory saltwater fish that eats green crabs. Of course, like many patterns we tie, this can be tied in a multitude of color schemes to imitate a variety of crabs.

Questions?

Give us a call here at the shop at (888) 413-5211 or email us anytime at [email protected].