Bodkin / Patterns

Carp Bitter

Nymph · Carp · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Gamakatsu SL45 or wide-gape scud hook, 4-8
  • Thread orange (or to match body) 140-denier

Materials

  • Eyes Medium black bead chain, on top of shank (1 pair)
  • Tail/legs Rubber legs or hackle fibers (optional) (2-4)
  • Body Wapsi Crawdub dubbing, mango, rust or olive (1 pinch)
  • Hackle Soft hackle or picked-out dubbing collar (1)

How to tie it

  1. Tie bead-chain eyes on TOP of the shank behind the hook eye so the fly rides point-up and won't snag as it crawls the bottom.
  2. Optionally tie a short rubber-leg or hackle-fiber tail at the bend.
  3. Dub a shaggy Crawdub body from the bend forward, building slight bulk at the thorax.
  4. Figure-eight dubbing around the bead chain and pick the body out heavily along the sides. The straggle suggests legs of crayfish, dragons and damsels all at once.
  5. Whip finish behind the hook eye and cement.

Tying videos

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