Teddy Bear Crab

Designed by Pro Staff tyer Casey of FlySmithFlies, the Teddy Bear Crab is a premium crustacean pattern built for sight-fishing the most selective shallow-water species. The fly gets its name from the unique body material: a hand-blended mix of deer hair and craft fur that creates a soft, dense, natural texture — similar to the subtle depth and matte finish of a real crab’s shell. Nothing about it looks synthetic or over-styled; it looks alive, familiar, and completely believable to a feeding fish.

The Teddy Bear Crab is tied on a #4 saltwater hook using a Finatics Blue Crab Body, articulated claw components, and proportioned legs that kick and settle just like the real thing. The deer hair–craft fur blend traps tiny pockets of water and moves with a low, breathable pulse, giving the pattern that natural bottom-creature feel fish instantly recognize.

On the flats, the fly lands quietly, sinks at a controlled rate, and settles into a defensive posture. A soft twitch makes the claws shift, the body breathe, and the silhouette lock into “prey mode.” Redfish, sheepshead, and drum respond immediately to the realism — especially in pressured areas where loud or flashy crab flies shut fish down.

Target Species: Redfish, Sheepshead, Black Drum, Bonefish (small-crab scenarios), Tripletail
Hook: #4 Saltwater (barbed)
Tyer: Casey – FlySmithFlies
Materials: Finatics Blue Crab Body, articulated claws, blended deer hair + craft fur body
Why It Works: Ultra-natural texture, muted movement, perfect sink rate, and a believable crab posture that convinces wary fish to commit.