Bodkin / Patterns

Jan's Carp Tickler

Streamer · Carp · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook 60-degree jig hook (e.g. Umpqua Jig hook), #8-10, with a slotted tungsten bead. Jan ties it as a small jig-worm, #8-10
  • Thread Olive or brown (match body color) 140 denier / 6-0 (heavier for durability)

Materials

  • Bead Slotted tungsten bead, gold or black (3.3-3.8mm), seated at the jig eye (1)
  • Tail Rubber/Spanflex legs, neon chartreuse or orange (highly visible) (2-4 strands)
  • Body Squirmy worm material or brown/olive dubbing over a lead-wire underbody (1 strip / pinch)
  • Legs Round rubber legs, olive/brown barred or hot chartreuse (2-3 per side)
  • Collar Ice Dub or rabbit dubbing, olive or rust (buggy ball at the bead) (pinch)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the slotted tungsten bead onto the jig hook and seat it at the eye; start the thread behind the bead. Add a few wraps of lead wire behind the bead if you want it heavier, and cover with thread.
  2. At the bend, tie in the neon chartreuse (or orange) rubber-leg tail so it trails a full shank length or more as the highly visible 'tickler' tail.
  3. Build the slim body: either tie in a strip of squirmy-worm material and wrap/secure it, or dub a slim brown/olive body forward to about the 70% point over the weighted underbody.
  4. Tie in 2-3 rubber legs on each side at the 70% point so they splay out as legs.
  5. Dub a small buggy collar of olive (or rust) dubbing right behind the bead to add bulk and hold the legs out.
  6. Whip finish behind the bead. The jig hook and tungsten bead ride the fly hook-point-up so it can be crawled along the bottom without snagging.

Tying videos

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