Kreelex

This pattern is part of the J. Stockard Flybrary, our organised collection of fly recipes. Browse our full collection of recipes and find something new to tie!

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Materials needed 4

Tying difficulty Average

Target species bass, trout

Tied by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions.

Originally designed by the late Chuck Kraft, the Kreelex Fly has become a modern classic streamer thanks to its undeniable flash and movement in the water. Think of it as a turbocharged version of the Clouser Minnow—built for fish that like to chase. This pattern was designed for smallmouth bass on the James River, but its effectiveness has carried over to trout, largemouth, and even saltwater species.

Tim Flagler’s version stays true to Kraft’s design—simple, quick to tie, but outrageously effective. The fly features only a few materials, but when the Kreelex Flash gets wet, it breathes and pulses with lifelike movement. The dumbbell eyes give it a jigging action that works well when stripped or bounced along the bottom.

If you're fishing stained water or targeting aggressive feeders, the Kreelex is a streamer you need in your box.