Improved Celine: an Urban Carp Fly Bruce Pencek

Improved Celines. Photo by Bruce Pencek.

This pattern is based on fieldwork conducted over several years at the Lake Las Vegas Resort in Henderson, Nevada, where I did flyfishing instruction for corporate groups.

Hook
Gamakatsu red Octopus, size 4

Thread
Orange Kevlar

Body
Orange craft-store foam, 1/16" x 1/4" x 2" (may taper slightly toward rear)

Hackle
Light brown spade. Fibers should be a bit longer than the shank of the hook.

Construction:

1. Fold foam accordion-style in quarter-inch segments. Leave 3/4" loose.
2. Thread foam on hook.
3. Secure front of foam with thread just behind eye. Superglue.
4. Tie in hackle.
5. Stretch and fold remainder of foam over point, leaving a tail that points out horizontally.

Variations: white with brown hackle (use tan foam for whole wheat bread); white with yellow hackle (white cheddar puffs or corn); yellow with white hackle (buttered). If the natural food is especially greasy, use a spey hackle to suggest the halo.

This version has a number of advantages over the original, which used ear-plug slices tied asymmetrically ahead of the hackle: it is more durable, the foam takes less fiddling to tie and fish, and it more closely resembles the naturals commonly found in park ponds and lakes. In addition to being adjustable to match the whatever variety of cheese puff or cheddar corn may be on the water, the folded-foam body has enough "give" that it will not impede hooking. (Nonetheless, if you tie this on a circle hook, go up one size to improve clearance.)

URL: mysite.verizon.net/bpencek/accordion-carp.htm
Copyright 2004 Bruce Pencek
Created 29 Dec. 2004