Dark Carey Special

This is a dark variant of the Carey Special. It is a fantastic streamer pattern that you need to give a try.

Use an extra long hopper hook on this pattern, and start your black thread about a third of the way behind the hook eye. Begin by tying in a strand of brassie size amber wire, securing it back to where the barb of the hook is located. Take touching turns of the wire for an extended amber hot spot at the rear.

Next, tie in pheasant tail fibers - dyed back - for your tail. You want your tail to be a bit longer, and as you secure it back to where your wire ended, the tail will prop up a bit. Now tie in a strand of flat gold wire to serve as your ribbing.

For the abdomen, I use dyed red peacock herl. Tie it in right where your hotspot ended, and then clean up the wire and herl with your thread. Take touching turns of the herls to form your abdomen, and then use your flat gold wire - with open turns - to create a ribbing through the peacock herls.

Finally, tie in a black hen saddle hackle for your soft hackle. Take touching turns while stroking the fibers back towards the hook bend. After three to four wraps, secure the hackle feather and remove any excess. Build up a good sized head, and you are ready to fish the Dark Carey Special.