Umpqua McFly Crab Fly

The Umpqua McFly Crab Fly, designed by Signature Tyer Drew Chicone, is an innovative crab pattern created to deliver one of the most natural presentations available for shallow-water flats fishing. Unlike many traditional crab flies that fall quickly with heavy lead eyes, the McFly Crab is engineered to land softly and sink naturally, closely imitating an unalarmed crab moving across the bottom.

Crabs are a primary food source for many of Florida's premier inshore species, including permit, redfish, black drum, snook, and sheepshead. The McFly Crab's realistic profile and subtle movement make it an outstanding choice when fish are feeding on shallow flats, sandy potholes, oyster bars, and turtle grass.

One of the fly's unique features is its wire-weighted foundation, which distributes weight evenly along the hook shank rather than concentrating it at the front with lead eyes. This balanced design allows the fly to settle gently into the water with minimal disturbance before descending naturally through the water column. The result is a presentation that closely resembles a relaxed crab instead of one darting frantically toward the bottom.

Premium materials provide exceptional durability while creating realistic movement during both the retrieve and the pause. The flexible legs move naturally with current and subtle strips, while the compact body profile accurately matches the juvenile crabs commonly found throughout Florida's Gulf Coast fisheries.

Another advantage of the McFly Crab is its adaptability. The materials can be easily trimmed to create a smaller profile when targeting selective permit or fish feeding on tiny crabs, allowing anglers to fine-tune their presentation without changing flies.

The McFly Crab excels when sight-fishing to cruising permit, tailing redfish, black drum, or snook along mangrove shorelines and shallow flats. Present the fly several feet ahead of the fish, allow it to settle naturally, then use short strips to imitate a crab making a slow escape across the bottom. Often, the most effective retrieve is the simplest.

Hand-tied to Umpqua's renowned quality standards using premium fly-tying materials and a durable saltwater hook, the McFly Crab Fly is built to withstand repeated battles with hard-fighting inshore species while maintaining its realistic profile and natural action.

Features

• Designed by Signature Tyer Drew Chicone
• Premium Umpqua craftsmanship
• Realistic juvenile crab profile
• Innovative wire-weighted construction
• Soft, natural landing
• Balanced sink rate for realistic presentation
• Durable premium fly-tying materials
• Flexible legs create lifelike movement
• Easily trimmed for smaller presentations
• Ideal for shallow-water sight fishing

Best For

• Permit
• Redfish
• Black Drum
• Snook
• Sheepshead
• Bonefish (where present)

Ideal Fishing Techniques

• Florida flats fishing
• Sight fishing
• Grass flats
• Sand potholes
• Oyster bars
• Turtle grass
• Mangrove shorelines
• Short strip retrieves
• Pause-and-strip presentations
• Floating and intermediate fly lines

Specifications

• Fly Pattern: McFly Crab
• Designer: Drew Chicone
• Fly Type: Crab Pattern
• Construction: Premium Hand-Tied Fly
• Weighting: Balanced Wire Weight System
• Application: Saltwater Fly Fishing
• Target Species: Permit, Redfish, Black Drum, Snook & Other Inshore Species
• Brand: Umpqua

Why Anglers Choose the Umpqua McFly Crab Fly

The McFly Crab Fly stands apart because of its natural presentation. Its innovative wire-weighting system allows the fly to land quietly and sink with the realistic movement of an undisturbed crab, making it especially effective for wary permit and pressured flats fish. Combined with its durable construction and adaptable profile, it's a trusted choice for serious inshore fly anglers.

Shop Umpqua McFly Crab Flies at Premier Tackle

At Premier Tackle, we know that success on Florida's flats often comes down to presenting the right fly in the most natural way possible. The Umpqua McFly Crab Fly delivers exactly that, making it an excellent choice for anglers targeting permit, redfish, black drum, and snook throughout the Gulf Coast. Whether you're stalking fish on Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay, or Charlotte Harbor, this premium Drew Chicone pattern belongs in your fly box. We Carry What Works.