I don’t usually do this, but I’m going to share a concept/work-in-progress. What do we know? The Hous is high and it’s loaded with rusty crayfish which smallies eat. I’ve done precious little bottom bouncing with crayfish patterns, and I want to explore that. So: dumbbell eyes, inverted hook, lots of marabou = lots of motion, rusty/orange/red/brown/green colors, a little flash. We’ll see what the focus group thinks.
No name yet, not even the final materials and colors, but if I were a smallmouth, I’d chow down.
currentseams.com 
Nice Steve — now I’ll have to do an articulated version !
I’d be concerned about having more hangup points, but by all means, play, explore, have fun. I haven’t even test-driven this one!
The “Rusty Craw”. Kinda like SpongeBob’s Krusty Krab. Too bad it’s not a crab fly
Cut the tail off and it could be…
Reminds me of an Intruder style steelhead fly…
It reminds me of a lot of things. 🙂
The question is, what will it remind the smallmouth of?
As long as the answer is “food”, I guess it doesn’t matter right? I like it! If the water ever goes down to a reasonable level, I’ll let you know what Pennsylvania brown bass think of it…
Roger that. Keep in mind that this is a WIP…so stay tuned.
Those look great Steve! I have some barred rabbit strips in that color. I’m gonna be a “copy cat” 😄 and tie something similar to yours.
Frank
I think riffing off other patterns is a good thing. Musicians, artists, fly tyers….inspiration is all around us.
Yes, it will definitely catch! I’ve been rewarded with some nice size smallies by focusing more on the bottom. Yes, you might loose more flies but it is very rewarding.
I shall eagerly await my treasure…
Steve, that will work. There is zero doubt. It’s simple, has all the ingredients. Smallies, and probably any other fish in the rivers and lakes you fish, will eat that solidly.
I am confident and hopeful. The bass will have the final say.