The headstand is my go-to Carp fly. Designed specifically for sight fishing to Carp, it has just enough weight to slowly sink and invert the hook, but is just light enough to cast near feeding carp without spooking them. It is commercially available from Umpqua in two colors. Chartreuse, and rusty orange. I use the chartreuse version as an attractor type pattern since it’s easy for the fish to see, even in murky water. The rusty orange version is more popular for picky fish or clear water. It also works great where Carp feed on crawfish.
The curved hook teamed with bead chain eyes creates a fly that inverts, riding hook point up. This is important because of the shape of a Carp’s mouth, and to keep from collecting too much moss or snagging the lake or river bottom. Because Carp have a mouth with a lower lip that is shorter than their upper lip, a fly riding hook down is more likely to slide out of the fish’s mouth without penetrating. With an inverted hook point you’re most likely to penetrate the top lip or side of the Carp’s mouth. The bead chain eyes and curved hook also create a profile that stands up off the bottom, add legs for side to side stability (and bugginess) and you’ll see why I named this fly the Headstand. Sneak into casting range of some feeding Carp and then hope you have enough backing on your reel .
Material List (Chartreuse)
Hook: TMC 2457 Caddis Pupa, Nymph Hook - 8
Hook (Alternate): Daiichi 1120 - Heavy Wire Scud Hook - 8
Thread: UTC Ultrathread 140 Denier - Fl. Chartreuse
Thread (Alternate): Danville 140 Denier Waxed Flymaster Plus Thread - Fl. Yellow
Eyes: Bead Chain Eyes - Medium - Silver
Eyes (Alternate): Bead Chain Eyes - Medium - Gold
Tail: Magnum Rabbit Strips - Chartreuse
Tail (Alternate): Rabbit Zonker Strips - Fluorescent Yellow Chartreuse
Abdomen : Solid and Krystal Tinsel Chenille - Fl. Chartreuse
Abdomen (Alternate): Fulling Mill Shimmer Chenille - Micro - Fl. Chartreuse
Thorax: Ice Dub - Chartreuse
Thorax (Alternate): Hends Spectra Dubbing - Chartreuse
Wing: Hareline Peacock Swords
Wing (Alternate): Peacock Swords - Matched Pair
Legs: Barred Sili Legs - Fl. Chartreuse
Legs (Alternate): Grizzly Flutter Legs - Black Barred Chartreuse
Material List (Natural)
Hook: TMC 2457 Caddis Pupa, Nymph Hook - 8
Hook (Alternate): Daiichi 1120 - Heavy Wire Scud Hook - 8
Thread: Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0 - Brown
Thread (Alternate): UTC Ultrathread 140 Denier - Brown
Eyes: Bead Chain Eyes - Medium - Silver
Eyes (Alternate): Bead Chain Eyes - Medium - Gold
Tail: Rabbit Zonker Strips - Sand Variant
Tail (Alternate): Rabbit Zonker Strips - Gold Variant
Hackle: Metz - Hackle Bugger Bunch - Brown
Hackle (Alternate): Hareline Bugger Hackle Patch - Brown
Abdomen : Wapsi Super Fine Dry Fly Dubbing - March Brown
Abdomen (Alternate): Hareline Dubbin - Ginger
Thorax: Hareline Dubbin - Fl. Orange
Thorax (Alternate): Hareline Dubbin - Hot Orange
Wing: Hareline Peacock Swords
Wing (Alternate): Peacock Swords - Matched Pair
Legs: Barred Sili Legs - Pumpkin/Green-Orange
Legs (Alternate): Grizzly Flutter Legs - Black Barred Rootbeer
Materials & Alternate Materials Listed Below
