NymphSwimming Crane Fly Larva
This pattern imitates the larval stage of the crane fly, a large, often-overlooked food source for trout. The marabou tail and rabbit fur body give this fly a lifelike, undulating movement in the water.
Spring, Summer
Advanced
Trout
Apr 2025
Overview
This subsurface pattern imitates the large, wriggly larvae of crane flies. It's typically tied with a soft, tapered body made from materials like rabbit or synthetic dubbing, and often includes rubber legs or mono eyes for added movement and realism. Fished dead drift or on a slow retrieve, it excels in slower-moving water and muddy-bottomed streams where crane fly larvae thrive.
Materials
Hook: Orvis Tactical Barbless Jig Hook, size 12
Bead: Slotted tungsten bead, 1/8-inch, black
Thread: 70 Denier or 6/0, black
Tail guard: 25-pound-test monofilament
Tail/body: Natural-brown Rabbit Zonker Strip, trimmed on bottom
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: These elongated aquatic invertebrates flex rhythmically to move between vegetation zones, their serpentine swimming pattern ungainly but effective. Trout patrol marginal shallows specifically for these meaty larvae despite their awkward locomotion making them relatively slow prey.
Where Trout Eat It: Trout patrol shallow marginal zones and weed beds at depths of 1-4 feet to intercept large larvae.
How to Fish It: Experiment with different retrieves beyond dead-drift to imitate the swimming larva's distinctive undulating motion.
Best Water: Focus on shallow margins, weed edges, pockets, and channel swings where crane fly larvae concentrate.
Strike Type: Indicators typically slide under slowly or move steadily away as fish inhale the large larva during a retrieve pause. Strikes can feel like a gradual tightening rather than a sharp jolt—trout often take these meaty patterns with confidence.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: This pattern can be fished on its own or as the point fly in a tandem nymph rig.
Seasonal Timing: Effective during active feeding periods throughout the season. Fish morning and evening for best results.
Pro Tips: This fly sinks and is meant to be fished near the bottom. The marabou tail is highly visible and moves enticingly in the water.
Entomology
Crane fly larvae undulate through shallow water margins and weed beds with distinctive snake-like swimming motions, their elongated segmented bodies flexing rhythmically as they move between feeding areas. Trout patrol these marginal zones specifically to target the large, meaty larvae which represent substantial food items despite their ungainly appearance and relatively slow swimming speed.
- Order
- Diptera
- Family
- Tipulidae
- Common Name
- Crane Fly
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- larva