Well, since it's Father's Day, I figured I would introduce the world to my favorite dad. His name is "Skip's Dad" and he hails from the mind of Skip Morris. I was introduced to him via Joe Cornwall's "Fly Fishing Warm Water Rivers".
Here in Virginia, the rivers are lousy with crayfish. I went last week to the South Fork of the Shenandoah, and in a meter-square area along the shoreline, there had to be at least 30 crayfish in it. 🙄
I fish this fly with either a floating line and 10-foot leader or a clear sink-tip. I cast quartering downstream on a tight line like a steelhead swing. Either use 5-inch quick strips or 30-inch slow strips, I've had success with either.
Sometime when I get around to it, I'll start dead-drifting Skip's Dads under an indicator.
Recipe, partially stolen from Joe's book:
Hook: Size 6 to 14, 2xl or 3xl
Thread: Tan, Brown, or Rusty Brown 8/0
Weight: Barbel Eyes
Tag: Dub a "nose" of dubbing from 1/3 of the way around the bend of the hook to the flat of the shank
Tail: Natural reddish/brown pheasant tail fibers tied in two bunches and split with dubbing to resemble small claws. (Dads with small claws are easier prey for fish)
Body: Light olive or brown haretron dubbing
Shellback: Pheasand tail fibers pulled over the dubbed body
Ribbing: Fine copper wire
Photos taken by Melanie Smith
