Fulling Mill Jorgensen's Claw Dawg Fly

Overview

The Claw Dawg from Fulling Mill is a crayfish pattern tied in the defensive, claws-up pose a crayfish takes when it is threatened. Slotted tungsten cones get the fly down quickly to the bottom, where crayfish live.

Crayfish are a favorite meal for big trout and bass, and a fleeing or defensive crayfish is an easy target. Fished along the bottom with short hops, this fly kicks up a little silt and moves water like the real thing. It is compact and casts easily on a trout or bass rod.

How to Fish It

• Hop it on the bottom: let it sink, then retrieve with short strips and pauses so it hops along like a crayfish scooting backward.
• Target rocky water: fish it around boulders, ledges and rocky banks where crayfish hide.
• Lines: a floating line works in shallow water; use a sink-tip in deeper runs or lakes.
• Warm water: crayfish are most active in summer and early fall, when bass and trout feed on them heavily.

Choosing Color and Size

Brown and Olive match the natural crayfish found in most rivers and lakes. Purple is a darker, higher-contrast choice for low light and stained water.

All colors are size 4, large enough for big trout and bass.