When was the last time you fished a crane fly larvae? If the answer is ‘never’ we wouldn’t be surprised. Crane flies are an uncommon and easily overlooked food source for trout. But given the right time and place, they can be extremely effective. In this fly tying video, Ben Baxter shows us how to tie a variation of Shafer’s Gummy Crane with tungsten bead head.
Crane flies are those big, spindly-legged bugs that look something like a giant mosquito, the ones you often see flying around porch lights in the summer. Among the hundreds of species of crane flies, most of them are not aquatic insects. So they’re not usually thought of as trout food. But they do prefer to lay their eggs in the soft, damp soil along creeks and rivers.
Following a bump in flows on tailwaters like the South Platte, or after rainstorms on freestone creeks, crane fly larvae, which look like a worm or grub, are washed into the river. These larvae can’t swim, making them an easy, high-calorie meal for fish.
The spring and early summer months are the ideal time to fish crane fly larvae imitations. Anytime you see rising water conditions, whether it’s from rain, runoff or dam release, try dead-drifting a Gummy Crane along the banks. When conditions are right, these patterns can be extremely productive.
In this fly tying video, Ben Baxter shows us how to tie Shafer’s Gummy Crane, with a few helpful tips for working with these tricky materials:
Materials List:
HOOK: Fulling Mill Nymph Hook OR Tiemco 5262 (Size 8)
BEAD: MFC Tungsten Round Lucent Beads (3.8mm | Coffee)
WEIGHT: Lead Wire (.020)
THREAD: Ultra Thread 140 Denier (Dark Brown)
RIB: Ultra Wire Brassie (Amber)
BACK: Sow-Scud Back (1/8” | Brown Stone)
FLASH: Mylar Tinsel (Medium | Gold/Silver)
BODY: Squirmito Worm Material (Worm Tan)
GLUE: Loon Clear UV Fly Finish (Thin)
Contact Us
Have questions or need help getting started? We’re here to help! Come see us at the fly shop in Littleton. Or give us a call at 303-794-1104. Whether you visit us in person or take advantage of free shipping, we’d be happy to help you find the fly tying tools and materials you need to tie any pattern. This spring, tie up a few Gummy Cranes and let us know what you think. It might just change your next high-water day!
