Crackleback Fly

Crackleback

The Crackleback is a versatile and highly effective pattern that can be fished as both a dry fly and a wet fly. Its unique design and lively movement make it appealing to a wide variety of fish species.

How it's tied

The Crackleback is typically tied on a standard dry fly hook, usually in sizes 12 to 18. The body is formed from dubbed fur or synthetic material, often in bright, eye-catching colors such as yellow, orange, or green.

A palmered hackle, typically grizzly or brown, is wrapped from the tail to the head, providing buoyancy and creating a segmented appearance. Peacock herl or another shiny material is often added at the head of the fly for additional flash and attraction.

While the tying process of the Crackleback can be a bit complex due to the palmered hackle, the end result is a fly with a distinctive, undulating motion that proves irresistible to fish.

What it mimics

The Crackleback is a generalist pattern and can mimic a variety of aquatic insects, including mayfly emergers, caddis pupae, and small baitfish or leeches when fished wet. The versatility of the Crackleback lies in its ability to represent a wide range of aquatic life, making it a valuable addition to any fly box.

Where it's used

The Crackleback is effective in a range of environments and can be used in both rivers and lakes. It's particularly successful when fished on the surface during a hatch, replicating a struggling or emerging insect. When fished sub-surface, it can mimic small baitfish or invertebrates, drawing strikes from both trout and warmwater species.

Fly tying video for the Crackleback

Fish you can can fly fish for with the Crackleback

Brown Trout

Chub

Grayling

Perch

Rainbow Trout

Roach

Insect orders relevant to the Crackleback

These are insect orders of which one or more species are mimicked by the Crackleback.

Caddisflies

Trichoptera

Mayflies

Ephemeroptera

Share the link to this fly

Save this fly in your favorites

Other flies

Adams

Alexandra

Ant

Biscuit Pattern

Black Gnat

Bloodworm

Blue Damsel

Blue Winged Olive

Brassie

Bread fly

Bumblebee

Bunny Leech

Butcher

Buzzer

Caddis Fly

Captain Crunch

Carnage Attractor

CDC

Chernobyl Ant

Clod Hopper

Clouser Minnow

Copper John

Crab Pattern

Czech Nymph

Daddy Long Legs

Damsel Nymph

Diawl Bach

Elk Hair Caddis

EP Streamer

Foam Beetle

Frog Popper

Glo Bug

Grannom Emerger

Grasshopper

Grey Wulf

Griffith's Gnat

Hare's Ear Nymph

Humpy

Humungus

Inch Worm

Invicta

Klinkhammer

Lady Bug

Lefty's Deceiver

Maggot

Magnus

March Brown

May Fly

Mickey Finn

Montana Nymph

Muddler Minnow

Palomino Midge

Parachute Adams

Peeping Caddis

Pheasant Tail Nymph

Prince Nymph

Red Tag

Rock Worm

Royal Coachman

RS2

Salmon Egg

San Juan Worm

Sand Eel

Sculpin

Sedge

Sedge Goddard

Shrimp Pattern

Shuttercock

Sparkle Dun

Sparkle Pupa

Spider Pattern

Squirminator

Stimulator

Stoat's Tail

Stone Fly

Woolly Bugger

X-Caddis

Zebra Midge

Zonker

Is your favorite fly not listed? Let us know.

Discover fly fishing around the world

New info about fish, locations and countries
Upskill with tips and tricks
Save your favorite species, flies, locations and more

FlyFish Circle is run by fly fishing enthusiasts and is completely free!

Join now