Claret wiggly nymph

Hook: #8 heavy wire wet/nymph.
Weight: Lead wire 0.4mm.
Thread: Danville’s Flymaster 70 Claret.
Tail: Black rabbit zonker fur.
Rib: Copper wire, brassie size.
Abdomen: Claret hare’s ear dubbing.
Shellback: Turkey tail.
Legs: Black spandex or any silicone rubber legs.
Thorax: Claret hare’s ear dubbing.
Head: Claret thread.

This fly has proven to be one the most productive carp flies that I have tied. It works in clear, stained, off color or muddy turbulent water. As far as I can tell the only thing that matters is if you fish it or not!

I tie all of mine exactly the same regardless of the depth or size of water that I will be fishing, and for carp size #8 standard shank seems to be the winning size. Once I complete the fly I liberally coat the shellback and head with hard as hull. This adds durability to the fly, although between the fish, snags, brush and trees I typically go through about a half dozen each time I go carp fishing…view full tutorial.

Fly Tying Tutorial – Extractor Dabbler

Fly Tying Tutorial – Extractor Dabbler

Hook: 6-12 heavy wet
Thread: Black
Tail: Red golden pheasant feather
Rib: Small oval gold tinsel or small gold wire
Body: Flat medium gold tinsel
Shoulder Hackle: Lemon yellow
Throat Hackle: Red golden pheasant feather
Wing: Bronze mallard dabbler style
Eyes: Jungle cock (optional)

The Extractor was created and tied by Michael Rogan of Ballyshannon, and a large number of people still refer to the fly as Rogan’s Extractor. It is a superb fly but sadly, for one reason or another, it has fallen through the cracks and is not as commonly used as it once was. Which is a real shame as the fly will produce fish on those awful days when nothing else will work. After all, Mr. Rogan did name it the “Extractor”!

The fly that I am presenting here is tied dabbler style (the dabbler created by Donald McClearn of Co Down, Ireland), the original fly is dressed standard wet fly style. Either way, the dressing calls for the yellow hackle to be long and “sweeping back”. Regardless if tied traditional or dabbler style it still is a beautiful fly. view full tutorial…