Last Chance Cripple

Last Chance Cripples mimic an emerging mayfly (PMD to be exact) that has a crippled wing or cannot emerge from its casing. This is a fairly common phenomena for many aquatic bugs, especially the Pale Morning Dun. These crippled bugs make for an easy meal for trout and therefor trout will rise to them more often than a healthy bug. Healthy bugs fly away, but crippled bugs do not, and therefor its a bigger chance that their energy spent rising to a bug will result in a meal.

Not only are these effective, but they are also very easy to tie. In fact, I find them slightly easier to tie than catskill style flies or even parachute flies. The only thing that costs a fair amount of money when tying these is the hackle and hook. The rest of the materials are not bad, and it doesn't take a ton of them. Once you have the dry fly hackle, and some hooks, all you really need is some dubbing and a couple variegated feathers. Mallard flank can be substituted for the expensive wood duck if you would like. Or even use a different tailing material. Also the turkey Biot body could be substituted for goose Biot, but I find the turkey to be longer and easier to work with for bodies. Do not save money though buying the hackle as you will be very disappointed in low quality hackle. I have included a link to a whiting cape assortment (4 pack introductory hackle) that gives you 4 different colors, and enough hackle to tie 100's of flies in 4 colors and multiple different sizes. Best deal in hackle for sure!

As always I am listing all the materials I used on this fly with links to where you can purchase them.

Materials
Hook: Size 14 Risen barbless dry fly hook - https://www.risenfly.com/collections/hooks/products/barbless-dry-fly-100
Thread: Veevus 16/0, tan - https://amzn.to/32sWnIB
Tail: Lemon Wood Duck - https://www.americanflyandtackle.com/Lemon-Wood-Duck-Flank-p/aft209-105…
Body: Turkey Biot, yellowish tan - https://amzn.to/32nZUIo
Dubbing: UV2 Fine and Dry, PMD color (mixed with PED) - https://amzn.to/2I73Ofz
Wing: CDC, light (or natural) dun - https://amzn.to/2wHm0tu
Hackle: Rooster Hackle (saddle or cape) - https://amzn.to/3842XH3
Head Cement: Hard as Hull - https://amzn.to/2Tiwwis

Tools
Vise: Renzetti Traveler - https://amzn.to/2t2FFmo
Bobbin: Stonfo Bobtec - https://amzn.to/38Ea7lN
Scissors: Dr. Slick all purpose - https://amzn.to/38DoLd6
Whip finisher: Dr. Slick brass - https://amzn.to/2tGYwDW
Hackle pliers: Tiemco soft tip - https://amzn.to/2VBb77d