This pattern was introduced to me by Captain Frank Praznik while spending a day on a certain front range reservoir sight fishing for carp. Developed by Andrew Spinato, formerly of Longmont, Colorado, this simple little slider is a soft landing, easy casting offering that got eaten all day long. You can tie this fly in all sorts of colors, and even sub in antron yarn or EP fibers for the body as available. I usually face mine with a couple bunches of bright colored material just because it makes them easier to see int he water and that allows me to spot and work the fly a bit more effectively. If you’re getting into carp fishing, this pattern certainly should be in your box and is an easy to tie effective fish catcher for these not so easy fish.
PS-
It has come to my attention that i left out the chenille body from Andrew’s original pattern so this one is not quite true to spec…but it still works.
Materials Needed:
Hook: TMC 5262 #6-10
Thread: 140 Denier UTC, Flo. Orange
Eyes: Medium Bead Chain
Tail: Marabou
Body: Sparkle Yarn, Antron Yarn or EP Fibers, faced with a couple strands of a brighter color for visibility
Step 1
Attach the thread behind the hook eye and build a thread base back to about mid-point on the hook shank. Return the thread to about two eye lengths back from the eye. Tie in a pair of bead chain eyes just behind the hook eye using X-wraps. Go back and forth several times to build up a bit of thread between the eyes and tie them down securely.
Step 2
Measure a clump of marabou against the hook so it is one shank length long. Tie the marabou in at the bend and wrap forward over the butt ends to just behond the eyes. Clip the excess marabou and build a thread base over the butt ends so the shank is covered with a smooth layer of orange thread. Return the thread to the hook bend.
Step 3
Tie in a single strand of Sparkle Yarn, Antron Yarn or a small bunch of EP Fibers using X-wraps right at the base of the tail.
Step 4
Move the thread slightly forward and tie another strand in in the same manner right in front of the first. Repeat this process moving up the hook shank to just short of the eyes.
Step 5
Finish the front of the fly with two strands of the brighter colored yarn tied in the same manner as the others. Whip finish and clip the thread.
Step 6
Pull the yarn fibers out to the sides of the fly and make an angled cut with your scissors making a tapered cut toward the eyes.
Step 7
About like this…
Step 8
Make a identical cut on the other side of the fly, taking care to keep the body symmetrical.
Step 9
Use a wire dubbing brush to rough the yarn body up a bit.
Step 10
Finished fly, side view
Step 11
Finished fly, top view
Step 12
Finished fly, Bottom View, as it will sit when fished with the hook point up.
