Streamers: Step-by-step fly tying instructions. 

Fish-Skull Skull Daddy Crayfish created by Mike Smith.

A simple, realistic crayfish pattern used to target bass, trout, and other freshwater fish.

The Fish-Skull Skull Daddy Crayfish is tied with the award-winning Fish-Skull® Sculpin Helmet™ to get the fly down deep and ensure the fly will always swim in the hook-up position without snagging. 

Ultra-realistic Fish-Skull® Living Eyes™ act as an important trigger for predatory gamefish, and the Fish-Skull® Crawbody™, which is made from nearly indestructible, bite-proof suede, provides lifelike texture and movement when wet.

Fly tying materials

Head: Fish-Skull® Sculpin Helmet™, mini or small size, brown, olive, or black (as per the fly variation being tied).
Hook: Standard streamer, 4XL, down-eye, #4 for mini helmet, #2 for small helmet.
Eyes: Fish-Skull® Living Eyes™, 3.0mm, gold.
Body: Fish-Skull® CrawBody™, medium for #4 hook, large for #2 hook.
Underbody - Chenille: Brown/tan (varigated) or olive (as per fly variation being tied).
Underbody - Hackle: Brown or olive (as per fly variation being tied).
Antennae: Rubber legs, brown or olive (as per fly variation being tied).
Thread: Brown or olive (as per fly variation being tied).

Fly tying instructions

Step 1

Secure the hook in the vise as shown. 

Fit 2 long strands of rubber legs through a Sculpin Helmet and slide them onto the hook (as shown).

Step 2

Slide the Sculpin Helmet past the bend of the hook. Attach your tying thread.

Step 3

Tie in the rubber legs along the length of the hook shank. Lay a good thread base as shown.

Step 4

The size of the Crawbody should be as shown. The tail should extend slightly past the eye of the hook.

Step 5

Tie in the CrawBody at the tip using 2 or 3 loose thread wraps to hold the body in place.

Step 6

Twist the Crawbody 180 degrees to position it underneath the hook.

Step 7

Rotate your vise so that the hook point faces upward.

Stretch the CrawBody down over the hook and make sure the tail is slightly past the eye of the hook. 

Once you're happy with the positioning, secure the CrawBody in place with a few more tight thread-wraps.

Step 8

Put a good amount of super glue on the point of the CrawBody head.

Step 9

Fit the Sculpin Helmet and seat firmly in place.

Make sure the rubber legs are positioned to the left and right of the hook.

Make sure the CrawBody is straight and the tail extends slightly past the hook eye.

Step 10

Tie in the Chenille directly behind the Sculpin Helmet. 

Note: The underbody of the fly uses the same technique as a Woolly Bugger.

Step 11

Wrap a double layer of chenille to form a thick underbody i.e. first wrap forwards towards the eye of the hook, leaving a small gap behind the eye, and then wrap back to the starting point. Tie off the chenille.

Step 12

Tie in a Woolly Bugger hackle and then wrap your thread forward to the end point. You will wrap the hackle forward to this point.

Step 13

Wrap the hackle forward using tight thread wraps. Tie off the hackle at the endpoint (as shown by the red arrow).

Step 14

Trim off the top of the hackle with your scissors. The underbody is now complete.

Step 15

The next step is to tie down the CrawBody on top of the fly in the process segment the body.

You will create four (4) tail segments as you wrap your thread towards the eye of the hook.

Start by pulling the CrawBody tight and wrap the 1st segment using 3 or 4 strong thread wraps.

Step 16

Lift the tail of the CrawBody and make a single wrap forward. Your thread is now in position to start the 2nd segment.

Step 17

Tie the 2nd segment using 3 or 4 tight thread wraps.

Step 18

Repeat the process until all 4 segments have been tied.

Lift the tail and tie off your thread.

Step 19

Add head cement to your thread tie-off point.

This is a top view of the segmented body.

Step 20

Attach your tying thread in front of the Sculpin Helmet and wrap a small thread dam to secure the head in place.

Make sure there is one antenna on either side of the hook.

Step 21

Tie off your thread and add head cement.

Step 22

Put a small drop of super glue in each eye socket.

Step 23

Place Living Eyes in the eye sockets.

Step 24

Brush out the hackles.

Step 25

Trim the rubber legs so they are about the same length as the fly.

Step 26

Your fly is done! Go catch a big fish!