Carey Special
The Carey Special is a Pacific Northwest stillwater staple featuring a pheasant rump hackle that creates an oversized, mobile collar suggesting dragonfly nymphs, leeches, and sedge pupae. It is one of the most effective subsurface lake patterns for trout and is a proven producer on BC interior lakes.
How to Fish It
Retrieve with a slow hand-twist strip along weed bed edges and shoals. The pheasant rump hackle creates an enormous pulsing profile underwater.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size Carey Special should I use?
The Carey Special is most commonly tied in sizes 8–12. Choose smaller sizes for clear water and pressured fish, and larger sizes for faster or off-color water.
What does a Carey Special imitate?
The Carey Special primarily imitates dragonfly nymphs, sedge pupae, leeches. Retrieve with a slow hand-twist strip along weed bed edges and shoals. The pheasant rump hackle creates an enormous pulsing profile underwater.
How do you fish a Carey Special?
Retrieve with a slow hand-twist strip along weed bed edges and shoals. The pheasant rump hackle creates an enormous pulsing profile underwater.
Pattern Details
- Category
- Wet Flies
- Sizes
- 8–12
- Colors
- Olive, Brown, Black
- Hook Styles
- 2x long wet fly
- Imitates
- dragonfly nymphs, sedge pupae, leeches
- Water Types
- lake
Buy This Fly
Buy at Fly Fish Food—
catches logged by anglers
Target Species
Effective on These Rivers
West Branch Farmington River
tailwater
Grande Ronde River
freestone
John Day River
freestone
West Branch Penobscot River
freestone
White River (Arkansas)
tailwater
Pattern Details
- Category
- Wet Flies
- Sizes
- 8–12
- Colors
- Olive, Brown, Black
- Hook Styles
- 2x long wet fly
- Imitates
- dragonfly nymphs, sedge pupae, leeches
- Water Types
- lake
Buy This Fly
Buy at Fly Fish Food—
catches logged by anglers