This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Quigley Cripple PMD version.

Quigley Cripple PMD Version | www.johnkreft.com

The Quigley Cripple was developed by Bob Quigley in the late 1970’s for Northern California’s Fall River.

As the story goes, Bob was fishing a Humpy and catching fish with it. The wing got chewed up and he caught many more fish with the tattered fly. That got him thinking. Perhaps he should tie a fly with a wing facing forward. The result was the Quigley Cripple. I read where he is credited with inventing the term “cripple” to describe this form of mayfly.

The fly represents a mayfly emerging from the nymphal shuck. Many fish key on struggling bugs as they are easy picken’s. Imitating this stage of insect can provide a great day of fishing.

The tail and body should be the color of the real nymph, whereas the thorax and wing will represent an adult trying to get free. A key identifying feature of the Quigley Cripple is the forward facing wing.

You’ll find many more fly patterns these days with forward facing wings – the Mayfly Cripple from Blue Ribbon Flies and the CDC Last Chance Cripple from Rene Harrop are a couple that quickly come to mind. 

In my experience, fish key on cripples as they are easier to catch and don’t have to worry about them flying off.

Enjoy…go fish!

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