Bob Reece is a junior-high science teacher from Cheyenne, Wyoming, who spends his summer guiding for North Park Anglers in Walden, Colorado. He also works with the Cheyenne branch of Project Healing Waters and runs a fly-fishing club for 7th and 8th grade students at the school where he works. You can learn more by visiting his Reece’s Thin Air Angler Facebook page. We have previously featured his Hot Amber Caddis Nymph, Hindsight trailing streamer, Missing Link dry fly,Simple Mini Leech, Fusion Nymph, and Beefcake Beetle.
In this video, he ties a great imitation of a crawler mayfly nymph. Here’s how Bob describes Reece’s Clearwater Crawler:
Crawler mayflies are typically poor swimmers and offer easy meals for trout once they’ve been pushed away from the stream bed by the oncoming current. I created this pattern as a technical imitation of PMDs, Hendricksons, and others in that group that could be presented to picky fish in clear water situations. Its buggy appearance and color variations also make for a great imitation of mayflies that include, but are not limited to, March Browns and Green Drakes.
In this video, Bob walks you through the steps to create the pattern, which is easier to create if you have a rotary vise.
Reece’s Clearwater Crawler
Hook: Orvis Tactical Czech Nymph Hook, size 12.
Bead: Black tungsten, 1/8-inch.
Thread: Black, 8/0 or 70-denier.
Tail: Black Fluoro Fiber.
Overbody: Black/Olive Larva Lace, one strand.
Underbody: Natural gray ostrich herl.
Wingcase: Natural Bustard Thin Skin.
Legs: Black/Olive Larva Lace, 1/3 strand.
Thorax: Peacock Krystal Flash.
Adhesive #1: Zap-A-Gap.
Adhesive #2: UV Clear Cure Goo Hydro.
Tools: Rotating hackle pliers.