Permit Fly Patterns

Permit fly patterns seem to all come from the same precise blue print that dictates a heavily weighted, rubber legged, crab pattern. This all began with the pattern pictured here; originally called Del’s Merkin it was created by Del Brown and Guide Steve Huff. This fly is more than the first effective pattern for Permit, but rather it was the start of a new and different technique of presenting the fly.

Permit flies normally follow a narrow range of hook sizes that run from 2 to 1/0 however smaller crab patterns are often used in Belize to better imitate the local crabs that range in size from 4 to 6.

Permit patterns are equally effective on bonefish since they also love crabs. The fact that both species often inhabit  the same flat has spawned a breed of fly patterns that have the appearance of being part shrimp and part crab. These new and very interesting looking flies have also help expand tying creativity as well as the list of Permit patterns available.


Captain Crabby Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811s, Thread- Tan 6/0, Weight - Nickel plated lead eyes, Tail Tan marabou with four Cree hackle tips and sparse pearl Krystal Flash, Body- 1/2" Diameter Corsair colored tan with Pantone pen and epoxy overcoat, Eyes- Burnt mono, Legs- Six tan rubber legs splayed X style. Pattern Designer: Bob Veverka

Chernobyl Crab Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Tan 3/0, Eyes- Steel barbell painted yellow with black pupils, Tail- White calf tail with gold Krystal Flash, brown hackle and natural deer hair, Hackle- Wide brown webby palmered through head, Head- Natural gray deer hair spun and trimmed to shape. Pattern Designer: Tim Borski

Mangrove Critter Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Tan 3/0, Eyes- Non toxic for weight, Weedguard- Clear monofilament single upright strand, Tail- Tan Craft Fur topped with orange Krystal Flash, Eyes- 60 lb Mason Hard Nylon burnt at tip, Butt- Pearlescent Crystal Chenille, Legs- Olive grizzly hackle, Body- Tan wool spun and tinted with dark olive pantone. Pattern Designer: Tim Borski

Mc Crab (Tan Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Brown 3/0, Weight- Steel barbell eyes tied just below hook eye, Tail- Tan marabou with sparse pearl Krystal Flash and two brown grizzly hackle tips, Eyes- Black mono, Body- Natural tan antelope hair spun and trimmed to shape marked with spots from brown Pantone pen, Legs- Four Rubber bands set as pairs in X pattern, Underbody- Lead held in place with white tile sealer. Pattern Designer: George Anderson

Permit Crab (Del's Merkin) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, although Del often used a Partridge Sea Prince, Thread- Fluorescent green single strand nylon floss, Tail- Four Cree hackle tips tied splayed and split with two strands of pearl Flashabou on each side, Eyes- Nickel plated steel barbell best to add a few drops of Super Glue, Body- Alternating colors tan and brown of rug yarn tied in with figure eight, Legs-Four strands of white rubber making eight legs with red tips added with Pantone pen. Pattern designer: Steve Huff and Del Brown

Rag Head Crab Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Fluorescent green single strand nylon floss, Tail- Tan marabou tuft with two ginger hackle tips tied splayed and split, Eyes- Nickel plated steel barbell, Body- Tan Craft Fur shaped with rounded rump, Legs-Three strands of tan Sili Legs making six legs.  

Rag Head Crab (Winston Moore variation) Pattern Recipe: Hook: Mustad 34007- Size: 4 to 1/0, Thread: Chartreuse, flat waxed nylon, size "A", Tail: Tan marabou, pearl crystal flash with one grizzly, Cree or red variant hackle tip on each side. The tail should be about 1/2 the hook shank long, Body: Tan and chartreuse wool tied on at first then coated with contact cement to attach legs and more wool, press together with fingers, Legs: Round rubber, Eyes: Bar Bell

Salt Crab Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- White single strand nylon floss, Weedguard- 15 lb Mason Hard Nylon, Pinchers- Dark mottled brown and white hen hackle, Legs- Soft grizzly hackle, Body- Natural gray and white deer hair spun and trimmed to shape marked with three stripes on back with brown Pantone pen, Eyes- Mono Nymph eyes. Pattern Designer: Dave Whitlock

Swimming Crab Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Tan 3/0, Weight- Painted steel barbell, Body- Tan wool spun and trimmed to shape,. Pinchers- Dark grizzly hackle with pearl Krystal Flash secured with Zap-A-Gap, Legs- Tan speckle flake rubber knotted and secured with Zap-A-Gap, Eyes- Burned mono secured with Zap-A-Gap. Pattern Designer: Joe Branham

Werkin Merkin Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Fluorescent green single strand nylon floss, Tail- Four Barred Ginger hackle tips tied splayed and split. Eyes- Nickel plated steel barbell best to add a few drops of Super Glue, Body- Alternating colors tan and cream rug yarn tied in with figure eight, Legs-Four strands of chartreuse rubber making eight legs. Pattern designer: Joe Grobarek