Carey Special Fly Tying Instructions

The Carey Special is a dry fly designed to imitate a small natural dragonfly. The Carey Special is named for a British ex-military officer, Colonel Carey. Effective on trout, bass and other freshwater fish in areas where dragonflies populate, the Carey Special is a take on the fly pattern that is effective in many parts of the United States. Creating the Carey Special requires only a few basic components.

Things You'll Need

  • Size 10 dry fly hook
  • Fly tying vise
  • Black thread
  • Red holo tinsel
  • Black dubbing
  • Pheasant feathers
  • Scissors
  • Head cement
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Place a size 10 dry fly hook in the jaws of a fly tying vise. Secure the hook in the vise by the bend of the hook, so the shank is on top and the point is on the bottom.

    • 2

      Wrap black thread around the shank of the hook. Begin just below the eye of the hook and wrap down the shank to the bend.

    • 3

      Attach a 4-inch length of red holo tinsel to the shank of the hook just above the barb, so that the tinsel extends beyond the hook bend. Tie the tinsel to the hook shank with several turns of black thread.

    • 4

      Remove black dubbing from a package and roll to a thin diameter between the finger tips. Roll the dubbing around the black thread and wrap the dubbing and thread up the shank of the hook toward the hook eye to create the fly body.

    • 5

      Tie the dubbing off with several turns of black thread to secure it in place. Trim excessively long strands of the dubbing fibers with scissors to neaten up the fly body.

    • 6

      Wrap red holo tinsel up the shank of the hook over the dubbing body. Space the holo tinsel so the dubbing fibers extend through between wraps of tinsel. Tie the tinsel off just below the hook eye with the black thread. Trim excess tinsel from the fly with scissors.

    • 7

      Select a short pheasant feather. Strip half the vane so that only the tip of the feather material remains. Pull the remaining feather material back smooth so it lies flat. Tie the tip of the feather onto the hook shank just below the hook eye with black thread.

    • 8

      Wrap the feather around the hook shank three times so that it spreads and forms a parachute pattern around the fly body. Tie the feather in place with black thread. Trim the feather so it does not extend up past the hook eye.

    • 9

      Finish the Carey Special with several turns of black thread just below the hook eye to form a head. Tie the thread off and apply a coat of thread cement to seal the thread.