Flex Crab Natural Fly

About the Flex Crab Natural Saltwater Fly

The Flex Crab Natural is a highly realistic permit crab fly designed to do one thing brilliantly: look like a real crab living on the flats. With its natural tan/cream carapace, subtle barred markings and a discreet orange hot spot, it’s a top-tier saltwater crab pattern for fish that inspect closely before committing.

This is a proper “3D” crab imitation. The woven, flexible shell holds its shape while still giving a softer, more lifelike feel in the water, and those splayed, red-tipped legs add just enough movement to suggest a crab that’s ready to scuttle.

Fishing Tips:

How it works

• True crab silhouette: The rounded mesh carapace creates a convincing profile that reads instantly as a crab, not a shrimp.
• Built to settle correctly: The eyes provide balance so the fly drops into the feeding zone and sits like a natural crab fly for permit should.
• Subtle trigger, not overkill: The orange hot spot gives a focal point (think roe/inner body) without making the pattern look gaudy.
• Leg action with minimal input: Flexible, splayed legs move on the pause and with tiny twitches, keeping the fly “alive” even when you barely strip.

How to fish it

• Lead the fish and let the fly land and settle—permit often want it stationary first.
• Use tiny scoots and long pauses: one short strip, then stop. A crab that “runs” looks wrong.
• If a fish tips down and tracks tight, freeze the fly. Let it commit, then set with a firm strip-strike.
• If the fish drifts off, give it one gentle scoot and pause again—often the second stop triggers the eat.
• Keep the rod low, strike with the line hand, then lift once you feel solid weight.