“Over the years, I’ve played around with different colour combinations and claret with yellow has proved particularly effective on Lake Wendouree, just around the corner from my Ballarat home. Hence the Wendouree Cruncher’s name: it’s proved particularly useful in a pulling team on this lake. On many other lakes, I fish it with a Kate McLaren (a wonderful bob fly just about anywhere) and a Connemara Black on the middle dropper. Add the Wendouree Cruncher on the point and you have a very good team.”

– Craig Coltman, FlyStream

Materials

• Hook – Mid weight size 12.
• Tail – Bright yellow cock hackle (yellow turkey Biots).
• Ribbing – Copper wire.
• Body – Pheasant tail.
• Thorax – Peacock herl.
• Collar – Grouse wing soft hackle (or wonga pigeon).

1. Cover the hook with thread.
2. Tie in the yellow cock tail, 2/3 length of hook shank.
3. Tie in the copper wire
4. Tie in the pheasant tail feathers by the tips.
5. Thread back to the eye
6. Tie in by the tip back to the tail then wind back to the eye. Reverse rib with the wire.
7. Tie in the thorax of peacock herl.
8. Tie in the soft hackle by the tip of the feather. Two or three turn and tie it off.  You want the feathers lean backwards.
   If the feathers don’t set properly use a hair dryer to direct the feathers backwards. Unless you have a half hour free to clean up a mess, it is a could be a good idea to point the hair dryer away from your waste bin!
9. Whip finish and drop of head cement.