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Lucky Penny Crab Step-by-Step:
It’s not often I can say a pattern shared here is one that I designed with a specific intent in mind, but, such is the case with this week’s pattern, the Lucky Penny Crab.
Designed with the intent of finally conquering my white whale, the Sheepshead, the Lucky Penny is a simple crab pattern built on an underbody of antron yarn. Adapted from the technique used to form the dorso-ventrally flattened abdomen on Phil Rowley’s Guinea Dragon, the fly consists of little more than Estaz, Calf Tail, Rubber Legs, and the aforementioned antron yarn.
Originally tied with Root Beer Estaz and barely larger than a penny, the name Lucky Penny seemed fitting, especially given the eventual results.
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Lucky Penny Crab Step-by-Step Tying Instructions:
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Tips and Tricks
- Added Weight – Dorso-ventrally flattened, this fly is not one to get to the bottom quickly (even with tungsten eyes). While that may suffice in skinny water situations, you may want to adapt if the fish are a little deeper. In this cases, consider swapping the antron underbody for Lead free wire. It can be applied the same way along the sides of hook shank, creating a wide, flat base similar to the version shown above.
- Color Selection – As always, be sure to tie this pattern in more colors than that shown above. While the root beer Estaz worked in this situation, Olive, Black, Tan or even pearl shades may be the ticket next time you’re on the water. It all depends on what the fish are keying in on.
Proof of Concept
Have to love it when a plan comes together. This fly was created with weary sheepshead in mind, and it just so happens that my lifer sheepshead was the first fish to fall for the pattern.
The fateful day came in February of this year on a trip to the Louisiana Marsh with friend and guide, David Rogers, of Flats Drifter Fly Fishing. David had been consistently putting folks on big fish and marsh slams all winter, and invited me down with the intent of finding some bull reds, black drum and, if I was lucky, sheepshead.
Intent on ending my 15 year curse, I rigged my 8wt with the newly minted Lucky Penny Crab and made the 2+ hour drive south with David.
As luck would have it, the first fish we encountered that morning was a large sheepshead cruising the shoreline. After a few poor casts and an initial missed hook set (yes, I pulled the fly clean out of the fish’s mouth!), I finally connected and, after a short fight, checked this white whale off my list.
Tight Line!
Chris
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