Fly Tying Inventory
Carp Sculpin
Cheech first tied this small sculpin to test Hareline's double pupil eyes on trout flies, then used it on an unplanned carp trip when fish were cruising in 2 to 5 feet of water and he needed more weight than bead chain. It rode correctly and took both cruising and stationary feeding carp. He later moved it to a stouter hook and keeps it in his carp lineup, and he expects it to take trout as well. It is easy to tie with a short list of materials. Tied here on a size 4 hook.
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Materials
Hareline Double Pupil Lead Eyes, extra small, black with fl. chartreuse and black
Black with Fl. Chartreuse and Black · Extra small
Hareline Micro Pulsator Rabbit Strips, black barred olive variant, for the tail and the spun head
Black Barred Olive Variant
How to Tie the Carp Sculpin
- 1
Step 1
Set the hook in the vise and start the thread near the hook eye. Build a short base where the eyes will sit.
- 2
Step 2
Tie the lead eyes on top of the shank close to the hook eye with crisscross wraps until they sit square.
- 3
Step 3
Put a drop of head cement on the wraps to lock the eyes, then run the thread back along the shank toward the bend.
- 4
Step 4
Form a dubbing loop at the back of the shank, set a pinch of Ice Dub in the loop and spin it into a rope with a dubbing spinner.
- 5
Step 5
Wrap the rope forward to just behind the lead eyes, stroking the fibers back as you go. Tie it off and trim the excess.
- 6
Step 6
Tease the fibers out to open up the body.
- 7
Step 7
Lay a length of Micro Pulsator strip over the body on the same side of the shank as the eyes, so it runs past the bend for the tail. Tie it in just behind the eyes and trim the front end.
- 8
Step 8
Cut the hair from a section of the same strip and load it into a hair clamp.
- 9
Step 9
Form a dubbing loop behind the eyes, set the rabbit in the loop and spin it into a shaggy rope.
- 10
Step 10
Wrap the rope behind and around the lead eyes to build the head, stroking the fibers back with each turn. Tie it off in front of the eyes and trim the excess.
- 11
Step 11
Whip finish at the hook eye, trim the thread and add a little head cement to the wraps.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8VCN_BT7n0
Credit: Cheech / Fly Fish Food