Carey Special

Materials

How to Tie the Carey Special

1. 1

   Step 1

   Place the hook in the vise and start black thread at the eye, wrapping back to the bend.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Optionally tie in a sparse bunch of pheasant rump fibers as a short tail, roughly the length of the hook gap. Trim excess butts.

3. 3

   Step 3

   If using a rib, tie in gold wire or additional thread at the tail position.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Tie in pheasant tail fibers by the tips and wrap forward to form a smooth, slightly tapered body. Secure and trim. Alternatively, tie in 4-5 strands of peacock herl, twist with thread for strength, and wrap forward.

   For peacock herl bodies, twisting the herl with thread creates a durable rope that won't fall apart after a fish.

5. 5

   Step 5

   If using a rib, counter-wrap it forward in open spirals for segmentation. Tie off and trim.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Select a pheasant rump feather with fibers about hook-shank length. Strip off the fluff, tie in by the tip just behind the eye, and take 1-3 wraps to form a soft, mobile collar. Stroke fibers rearward as you wrap. Tie off and trim.

   Keep the hackle sparse—just 1-2 turns is often enough. The pheasant rump's natural motion is what makes this fly deadly.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Build a neat thread head, whip finish, and apply head cement.