I call this fly the Bastard Crab because it is my bastardization of a great pattern I picked up from Greg Vincent, who runs Pelican Bay Bonefishing on Grand Bahama Island. Greg is a fantastic fly tyer, and ties some great (and great looking) flies. I used one of his crab patterns on a trip there in June 2008, and came home and tied my version - not as nice a fly as Greg's, but the bastardized version is also very effective. I've caught bonefish and redfish on this pattern so far. I've also seen this type of pattern showing up in numerous other spots, suggesting it is widely effective.

This pattern is a variation of the famous Del Brown Merkin crab pattern. I use Puglisi fibers for the body instead of yarn. There is no hackle for claws, only marabou, and the numerous (6 legs for size 2, 5 for size 4) legs are tied in on the hook side of the shank to that they stand up from the fly rather than splay out. The fly does not have to be stripped, the legs and marabou provide plenty of action to a falling or resting fly.

Hook: Mustad 34007, size 2 or 4
Thread: Pink Danville flat waxed nylon
Tail: Tan marabou
Body: Tan Puglisi fibers, tied in as for a Merkin
Legs: Sand colored Sililegs. I mark segments with black and red Sharpees
Weed guard: 30 pound mono

All material copyright Aaron Adams 2007, 2008, and beyond, unless noted.