Carey Special

Carey Special, A Versatile Wet Fly for Stillwater Trout

Work the water below the surface with the Carey Special, a wet fly suited to searching lakes, reservoirs, and slow-moving rivers. Its flowing hackle gives the pattern movement during retrieves and pauses, offering a suggestive profile rather than matching just one food source. With Natural, Red, and the new Burnt Orange color option, you can vary your presentation as light, water clarity, and fish response change.

Pattern Details

• Style: Wet fly / stillwater attractor
• Colors: Natural, Red, Burnt Orange
• Sizes listed: 8, 12, 14, 16. Choose a color to see its available sizes.
• Best water: Lakes, reservoirs, slow-moving rivers, weed edges, and drop-offs
• Techniques: Slow hand-twist retrieves, short strips with pauses, or controlled swings through softer current

Start with a slow retrieve and use a countdown to explore different depths. Along weed edges and drop-offs, alternate short strips with pauses rather than keeping the fly at one constant speed. In moving water, swing it through softer seams and let the current carry the presentation. Change depth and retrieve pace before switching colors, then try Burnt Orange when you want a different look from Natural or Red.

Keep the Carey Special in your lake box for a flexible subsurface presentation, with color and size options to suit the water you’re fishing.