The history of the original Carey Special is a bit fuzzy, and it depends on your source material. The pattern was developed in the 1920s or 30s in Quesnel, British Columbia. According to one story, the fly was invented by Dr. Lloyd A. Day, who called it Monkey Faced Louise; it was eventually renamed for Col. Tho Carey who popularized it. Alternately, Colonel Carey created the pattern for Doctor Day, or they both played a part in the process. However it came to be, the Carey Special was intended for the lakes and ponds of central BC, and served as a general attractor pattern that could imitate dragonfly nymphs, small fishes, or even crayfish.
In the latest video from Tightline Productions Tim Flagler walks you through the process for tying this useful fly, which can be created in a wide variety of materials and colors. Just looking at the buggy, fishy profile suggests that the Carey Special will catch most things that swim. Make sure watch Tim’s videos in full 4K resolution. You’ve never seen fly tying look so good.
Carey Special
Hook: 3X-long nymph hook (here a Dai-Riki #710), size 10.
Thread: Black, 6/0 or 140-denier.
Rib: Gold Ultra Wire,small.
Tail:Speckled Golden Olive Coq de Leon feather.
Body: Brown-olive rabbit-fur dubbing.
Thorax: Brown-olive SLF dubbing.
Hackle: Speckled Golden Olive Coq de Leon feather.
Head: Tying thread.
Adhesive: Head cement or UV-cure resin.
Note: Try this pattern with different materials, colors, and sizes.
very good lake pattern for trout ,I like to tie it with a palmered soft hackle added over the body !
Use pheasant rump feathers for the tail and hackle. Excellent fly.
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I tie it with pheasant rump tail and hackle, I use colored wool and peacock herl for the body. I troll it more than anything else.
The Coq de Leon tail is only for formal events. Lol. I prefer pheasant tail too. Its simplicity makes it a wonderful guide’s fly.