DIABLO CRAB – By ALAN CAOLO
THREAD: HOOK: #2 MUSTAD 3407 OR SIMILAR
O’SHAUGHNESSY STYLE HOOK.
THREAD: BLACK DANVILLE’S FLAT WAXED NYLON.
EYES: MEDIUM (1/24 OZ) OR LARGE (1/16 OZ) LEAD DUMBBELLS.
TAIL: OLIVE SCHLAPPEN; LIME GREEN OR A MIX OF PUMPKIN
AND LEMON SILI-LEGS.
BODY: INSECT GREEN MEDIUM CHENILLE WITH A WIDE OLIVE
SCHLAPPEN FEATHER PALMERED OVER TOP.
SIDE LEGS: LIME GREEN OR A MIX OF PUMPKIN AND
LEMON SILI-LEGS.
Step 1.
Flatten the barb and secure lead eyes to the back of the hook shank,
close to the eye of the hook. Wrap thread to cover the shank to a position
over the barb and coat the eyes with bronze nail polish.
Step 2.
Secure four Sili-Legs to the back of the hook, across from the barb (about a
hook’s length long – ½ the length of the finished fly). Then attach a schlappen
feather (about 1 ½” wide) just ahead of the tail legs attachment and palmer it
with four or five tight turns and secure and cut. Carefully back-wrap this hackle
with a few thread wraps so it lays back, flaring evenly over the legs.
Step 3.
Attach a second wide schlappen feather just ahead of the flared tail, and secure
the chenille to the hook over that feather attachment. Wrap the chenille to a
point about ¼” back of the eyes. Attach the second set of four Sili-Legs to the
hook shank by carefully winding the chenille over and beyond them
(thread attachment not required). Continue winding the chenille and over-wrap
the eyes, secure ahead of the eyes, and trim. Ensure the side legs protrude
off the sides of the fly, slightly angled back toward the tail.
Step 4.
Palmer forward the second schlappen feather (attached in Step 3) over the
chenille and around the legs with five or six wraps to just behind the eyes,
secure with thread, and cut. Secure the thread ahead of the eyes, trim and
cement. The body schlappen fibers should now be trimmed off the top of the
fly only to give it a flat, crab-like profile, leaving the long side and bottom fibers
as is. The legs are trimmed to extend about ¼” outside the body side fibers.