This weighted fly is a sure fired snack for bottom feeders and crustacian lovers (this covers most carnivorous fish).
Hook: Mustad 7957 B / 6 - 14 (std wet fly hook)
Weight: Lead wire
Tail and hackle: Ginger to olive wet hackle
Body: Chamois
Eye: Melted monofilament eye
Thread: Monocord
This is a simple fly to tie. The biggest part to it is cutting the chamois to resemble a baby craw while staying balanced. A little practice and a few trial flies fished in the local pond will soon make the tier proficient. When line twist is not present, the body is balanced. A hole for the hook eye needs to be present before tying. This is another habit the tier will develop.
Start with a solid foundation, cement heavily and tie down the lead wire to the top of the shank. The wire needs to be thick enough to make the hook keel, so that the barb rides on top. Return to the hook bend, tie in wet hackle. Follow the tie with the nose of the craw body. Tie in the eyes just behind the nose and run the thread to the eye of the hook. Wrap hackle sparsely to the eye and tie off. Run the thread forward to midshank, careful not to trap hackle. Pull the body back and feed the eye through the hole. Make sure that all the hackle is protruding from the fold of the body. Wrap tying thread around the body to simulate body sections, again careful not to trap hackle. Finish with a wrap know. Trim hackle around the shank to leg length. Leave a few strands of the tail section to simulate antenna.
The chamois craw is a weighted fly and show be used in shallow water where spawning crawfish can be found. It can be fished with a floating line or a sinking tip, depending on conditions. Because the hook keels, it is fairly snagless, but be careful not to fish it in impossible timber or weeds. Muddy bottoms are where they are usually found out in the open. Allowing them to sink, then retrieving with very short pops (an inch max), is enough to stir up little silt clouds. These little puffs of muddy water are a dinner bell to most fish. For a faster retrieve, the fly can be popped repeatedly, and the loose tail section will flip accordingly. The chamois may be traced with a tiny bit of craw scent to induce striking at a stand still. The least bit of water motion, like waves along the shore from the wind, will animate the claws quite well.
In moving water, fish it like you would a weighten nymph that has become dislodged and carried by the current. In other words, mend the line for a neutral float downstream, perhaps the tiniest of twitches being placed in for effect. But don't overdo it. Not enough is far better than too much.