Tying The Senyo Preyfish

Here's a very effective imitation of a crayfish that's fun to tie. Right now is the perfect time to sling this fly because the smallmouths are in heavy and spawning, and they gobble up crayfish.

Note that because of the heavy Flymen Sculpin Helmet, this pattern can be fished on conventional spinning gear. It's thus a great fly to help bridge the learning leap from store-bought to homemade lures, flies and tackle, whether for fly or conventional tackle.

Step 1:Attach 6/0 Uni orange thread to a No. 2 Gamakatsu B10S. Tie in a small clump of frosted crayfish-orange Australian opossum, then two brown Ostrich herls over the top.

Step 2:Tie in a sparse stack of 2.5-inch morrum (mustard) Arctic fox to each side of the opossum, then a set of 3-inch florescent-orange-barred clear rubber legs.

Step 3: Cut a 1/4-inch-wide by 3-inch-long piece of 2mm orange sticky-sided foam.

Cut the foam to create a small hourglass shape, then stick in a four-bead strand of small black plastic bead chain. Fold the foam over the center 2 plastic beads and it will secure itself via the glue on the foam.

Step 4:Attach the foam body over top of the Arctic Fox claws as seen above. The body should extend past the claws by about a half-inch. Secure with several thread wraps and then dub the center with a sparse amount of pheasant-tail Ice Dubbing.

Step 5:Fold the foam back and dub underneath the foam with more pheasant-tail Ice Dubbing. Fold the foam over the dubbing ball and secure with several thread wraps. Repeat this step again to form two segments.

Step 6: After the two segments are completed, fold the foam back and dub in another small amount of pheasant-tail Ice Dubbing.

Step 7: Create a thread head, whip finish and add a drop of superglue. Trim all the extra tail foam out of the way of the eye.

Step 8: Slide the completed pattern onto a 20mm Flymen Articulated Shank, then place the shank in your vice. Secure the open loop on the Articulated Shank with several wraps of thread.

Step 9:Tie in a small clump of frosted crayfish-orange Australian opossum and three to six brown/orange/gold rubber legs to each side of the opossum.

Step 10: Apply a small amount of Loctite Gel to the inside of a large brown Flymen Sculpin Helmet, then slide the Helmet over the rubber legs and opossum fur. Cut your tying thread and bring it to the front of the Helmet. Note: Make sure all material is trimmed away from the loop to allow free motion of the hook.

Step 11: Tie in another sparse clump of frosted crayfish-orange Australian opossum. Fold back the opossum and create a thread head. Tie off the head and add a drop of superglue.

Final Step: Take a brown Sharpie permanent marker and color the body, top of the Helmet and the claws as seen above.

Here's what the Preyfish looks like in water.