Cranefly (Daddy Longlegs)
The Daddy Longlegs is one of the most important terrestrial patterns in the UK and Ireland, particularly in late summer and autumn when craneflies hatch in enormous numbers along bankside grass and tumble onto the water. Trout cruise near the surface in a frenzy. The imitation's dangling knotted legs are the key trigger — fish it with a subtle twitch to animate the struggling insect, or dead-drift through calm bays on still waters.
- Type
- dry fly (Terrestrial)
- Hook sizes
- #8–12
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Best seasons
- summer, fall
Materials
- hook: Long shank dry fly #8–12
- thread: Brown or tan 8/0
- body: Tan or brown foam, slender and segmented
- wing: Two grizzly or dun hackle tips, swept back
- legs: Six knotted pheasant tail fibers or rubber legs
- hackle: Brown or ginger, sparse (optional)
Tying steps
- Mount a size 8–12 long shank hook; start brown thread.
- Form a slender tan or brown foam body, segmenting it with tight thread wraps in 3–4 places.
- Tie in two grizzly or dun hackle tips swept back as wings.
- Prepare 6 knotted pheasant tail fiber legs — knot each fiber at two joints to simulate the natural.
- Tie 3 legs on each side of the body, sweeping them outward and down.
- Optionally wind a sparse brown or ginger hackle at the thorax.
- Build a small head; whip finish and cement.
- Check that all knotted leg joints are symmetrically positioned along the hook shank — use a dubbing needle to reposition any legs that have slipped before the cement cures.