Hatchet Jack 0 Report post Posted May 14, 2016 Aka, "Daddy Long Legs". I did a search here and came up short - anyone have a pattern recipe and/or finished crane flies to post up? Got caught short last year around this time and I don't want to end up there again. These flies are crazy, all legs and wings, something the Wright Bros. would have laughed out of Kitty Hawk. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlaFly 0 Report post Posted May 14, 2016 I google-imaged Crane Fly Fishing Fly and got lots of them. Not all are patterns... most just pix, or flies for sale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted May 14, 2016 adult crane fly patterns https://www.google.com/search?q=adult+crane+fly+patterns&biw=1600&bih=775&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFqYu69NnMAhWGWT4KHYbiCU8Q_AUIBigB i dont tie them but theres a bunch in the link above Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilverCreek 0 Report post Posted May 14, 2016 I've fished the Big Lost River near Mackay, Idaho with the Mackay Special Fly. It was a very, very effective imitation of the adult crane fly tied with the Pott weave using horse mane hair. https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&q=mackay+special+fly https://books.google.com/books?id=knIemERB49kC&pg=PA88&lpg=PA88&dq=mackay+special+fly+pattern&source=bl&ots=a40F2fBcK7&sig=epNjq6eFQlT-iAuptzc3TTWS_SE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-q4fG9NnMAhXM44MKHRvdBqEQ6AEIRzAL#v=onepage&q=mackay%20special%20fly%20pattern&f=false You can also try the more modern and easier Brun's Tipula in my post in the thread below: http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/showthread.php?42682-Adult-Crane-Fly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaydub 0 Report post Posted May 14, 2016 I use a variation of this one: http://www.west-fly-fishing.com/fly-pattern-recipe/dry/deerhairdaddy.shtml Also Davie McPhail has several patterns on Youtube . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted May 14, 2016 Yep check Davies vids. Also check out his international hopper. Hoppers will cover most situations where cranes are out if you tie a range of sizes. I've tied the foam bodied flies but found in larger sizes the fish don't bite initially but try to drown. Very visual but not helpful to hookups. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeBillingsley 0 Report post Posted May 14, 2016 A.K. Best uses nothing but a size 18 or 20 dry fly hook, dry fly dubbing, and size 2 white hackle. Very simple and it works. Here is an explanation of it from one of his books and also includes Roy Palm's version: https://books.google.com/books?id=K_sqg0rHCXcC&pg=PA138&lpg=PA138&dq=ak+best+crane+fly&source=bl&ots=ncDaByk7Mv&sig=PPomodT5_aFHHbIbfy9h9eZgPnY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjs8v7DktrMAhVG6GMKHfe9BtIQ6AEIKjAC#v=onepage&q=ak%20best%20crane%20fly&f=false Joe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fly Fishing Russia 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2016 Some of the Daddy-Long-Legs flies I am using Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fly Fishing Russia 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2016 Some of the Daddy-Long-Legs flies I am using Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crackaig 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2016 I never have understood why detached body flies are tied on long shank hooks. They end up with the fly being tied only on the front 1/3 rd of the hook, with bare steel hanging out the back. If you use a shorter hook you can use one of heavier gauge wire, and still have less steel trying to make the fly sink. That is better for playing fish than a light wire long shank. Or am I missing something? Cheers, C. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2016 I never have understood why detached body flies are tied on long shank hooks. Cheers, C. Main reason I can think of is, it's the hooks we have on hand. A lot of us don't have a small shop's worth of tying materials, hooks and what-not, stored in our houses. I could be wrong. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
retrocarp 0 Report post Posted May 27, 2016 https://youtu.be/g2oHlZckcc0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
retrocarp 0 Report post Posted May 28, 2016 I just tied these up and I think they will kind of give the profile of a Crane fly ...tied on a size #14 B175 Kamasan hook Deer hair extended tail , Grizzly hackle size to suit fly , Wing is made from Guinea fowl feathers ( i think as the label has gone awol) lol Retro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milkman 0 Report post Posted May 28, 2016 Whew! I had to see what kind of fish y'all were seeking where you would use a fly representing an adult crane. I have this rule, I don't hunt anything that hunts back, and I was imagining a fish big enough to swallow an adult crane. What a relief to find it's only my ignorance of something apparently called a crane fly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
retrocarp 0 Report post Posted May 28, 2016 Lmao Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites