Favorite Carp Flies

Today, I worked on rebuilding my carp fly stash for the pending spring.  I stuck to tying favorite patterns; which, was easy since I only have a few.  Simply put, big, gold-bead Sparrows catch carp and bigmouth buffs where I fish. So do big, gold-bead soft-hackled Hare's Ears. These patterns work great for sight-fishing; or, drifting blind on a deep broadside or wet-fly swing.  However, most of the really big fish (over 30 inches) from last year ate the downstream dangle.  As you can guess, I fish rivers and streams.

Gold-bead Sparrow (Yellow)

Gold-bead Sparrow (Yellow)
Hook:  Size 6-8 Tiemco (your favorite stonefly hook)
Thread:  6/0 Yellow
Tail:  Spruce Grouse Marabou Fibers stripped from stem and pinched square
Body:  Sulphur Dubbin
Rib:  Flat Gold Tinsel
Weight:  7 turns small lead wire
Hackle:  Spruce Grouse Rump Feather (1-2 turns)
Collar:  Spruce Grouse Aftershaft Feather (2-3 feathers wrapped one at a time)
Head:  3/16" Gold Bead

Note:  I have caught more Buffalo and Carp on this than anything else.  Jack Gartside just might be a genius. 

Gold-bead Sparrow (Olive-Brown)

Gold-bead Sparrow (Olive-Brown)
Hook:  Size 6-8 Tiemco (your favorite stonefly hook)
Thread:  6/0 Black
Tail:  Ruffed Grouse Marabou Fibers stripped from stem and pinched square
Body:  Hareline Dubbin's Olive-Brown Hare's Ear mixed with Antron
Weight:  7 turns small lead wire
Hackle:  Ruffed Grouse Wing Covert Feather (1-2 turns)
Collar:  Ruffed Grouse Aftershaft Feather (2-3 feathers wrapped one at a time)
Head:  3/16" Gold Bead

Soft-Hackle Gold-Bead Hare's Ear

Soft-Hackle Gold-Bead Hare's Ear (Tan)
Hook:  Size 6-8 Tiemco (your favorite stonefly hook)
Thread:  6/0 Hot Orange
Tail:  Hare's Mask (from top of mask just below and between the ears)
Abdomen:  Hare's Ear Dubbin
Rib:  Flat Gold Tinsel
Weight:  7 turns small lead wire
Thorax:  5-6 Peacock Herls
Hackle:  Ruffed Grouse Wing Covert Feather (1-2 turns)
Collar:  Ruffed Grouse Aftershaft Feather (1-2 feathers wrapped one at a time)
Head:  3/16" Gold Bead
Note:  This is my version of the pattern tied by Tightline Productions.