Monkey Faced Louise

[Flysmallie]

Monkey Faced Louise is the original name for a popular fly now widely known as the Carey Special

The fly pattern was developed in the early 1920s by Dr. Lloyd A. Day and Colonel (Tom) Carey in British Columbia, Canada. The original name, "Monkey Faced Louise", has an unknown origin, although one rumor suggests it was named for the creator's girlfriend. The fly was later renamed the Carey Special in honor of Colonel Carey, who popularized its use among local anglers. 

I ran across this fly a few years ago and saved it in my list of flies to tie someday. And then, like most of the flies on that list, I totally forgot about it. Recently while trying to decide on a list of flies for an upcoming adventure I ran across it again. This time I put it on the list of flies to take on this trip. It's a long ways off but I've been having a fun time playing with this one and it will see some Missouri action soon.

The patterns listed for both patterns varies wildly. This is what I came up with.

[BilletHead]

7 hours ago, Flysmallie said:

Monkey Faced Louise is the original name for a popular fly now widely known as the Carey Special

The fly pattern was developed in the early 1920s by Dr. Lloyd A. Day and Colonel (Tom) Carey in British Columbia, Canada. The original name, "Monkey Faced Louise", has an unknown origin, although one rumor suggests it was named for the creator's girlfriend. The fly was later renamed the Carey Special in honor of Colonel Carey, who popularized its use among local anglers. 

I ran across this fly a few years ago and saved it in my list of flies to tie someday. And then, like most of the flies on that list, I totally forgot about it. Recently while trying to decide on a list of flies for an upcoming adventure I ran across it again. This time I put it on the list of flies to take on this trip. It's a long ways off but I've been having a fun time playing with this one and it will see some Missouri action soon.

The patterns listed for both patterns varies wildly. This is what I came up with.

            I like it, Ronnie. Nice flymph. I have always had an affinity for flies like this but don't tie many. What size is this?

[Flysmallie]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

            I like it, Ronnie. Nice flymph. I have always had an affinity for flies like this but don't tie many. What size is this?

Thanks Marty. That’s a size 8. 

[kjackson]

That's a standard in the PNW--or was when we lived there.  Supposedly, the original was tied with pheasant rump feathers twisted and then wrapped as the body followed by the rump hackle.  But it seems to work quite well with just about any body material and color you want to try.  The ones I tied and saw the most had longer hackle fibers than what we might think of as normal.  

That fly brings back memories...thanks!

[ness]

10 hours ago, Flysmallie said:

Monkey Faced Louise is the original name for a popular fly now widely known as the Carey Special

The fly pattern was developed in the early 1920s by Dr. Lloyd A. Day and Colonel (Tom) Carey in British Columbia, Canada. The original name, "Monkey Faced Louise", has an unknown origin, although one rumor suggests it was named for the creator's girlfriend. The fly was later renamed the Carey Special in honor of Colonel Carey, who popularized its use among local anglers. 

I ran across this fly a few years ago and saved it in my list of flies to tie someday. And then, like most of the flies on that list, I totally forgot about it. Recently while trying to decide on a list of flies for an upcoming adventure I ran across it again. This time I put it on the list of flies to take on this trip. It's a long ways off but I've been having a fun time playing with this one and it will see some Missouri action soon.

The patterns listed for both patterns varies wildly. This is what I came up with.

Cool looking fly very nicely photographed. What was your setup?

[eknapp]

Is this considered a wet fly?

[Flysmallie]

2 hours ago, kjackson said:

The ones I tied and saw the most had longer hackle fibers than what we might think of as normal

I saw pics of ones like that. There doesn’t seem to be much consistency. 

[tjm]

I think it could be a wet fly, or wingless wet,  or soft hackled fly or flymph, or spider; kinda depending on  who is talking. They all mean more or less the same thing, although most patterns of the type use smaller hackle, in some the hackle is more flared, I don't see a great distinction of the  patterns and the variations are endless. 

This pattern is said to imitate a dragonfly nymph, but I think of this type fly as representing small baitfish or crawdads as much as being representative of nymphs. But that is kinda in whether they are fished on a slack line or a taut line. Dead drifted or fished as a semi dry fly in the film, they would represent a nymph or emerging insect, but on a taut line either swung or retrieved, as most fish them they seem more fish like than insect like. Tied on #18-#14 they are great trout flies, on larger hooks bass and chain pickerel like them.Soft hackles have been my go to flies for about 50 years .

[Flysmallie]

2 hours ago, ness said:

Cool looking fly very nicely photographed. What was your setup?

If I was still at home I could show you. 
 

Basically a black background and a bunch of light. And that light cannot spill over on the background. 
 

There is a an Ott light over the top of the fly. It’s within 3 or 4 inches of the fly. That light is a tiny bit behind the fly and is tilted forward. Making sure that none of that light is on the background. Directly to the right of the fly is an LED panel that floods the fly. Barn doors adjusted to keep light off the background. 
 

It’s all in the lighting. Once you have the lighting right you can remove the background if the room is large enough and no other lights are visible behind it. 

[Flysmallie]

5 minutes ago, tjm said:

I think it could be a wet fly, or wingless wet,  or soft hackled fly or flymph, or spider; kinda depending on  who is talking. They all mean more or less the same thing, although most patterns of the type use smaller hackle, in some the hackle is more flared, I don't see a great distinction of the  patterns and the variations are endless. 

This pattern is said to imitate a dragonfly nymph, but I think of this type fly as representing small baitfish or crawdads as much as being representative of nymphs. But that is kinda in whether they are fished on a slack line or a taut line. Dead drifted or fished as a semi dry fly in the film, they would represent a nymph or emerging insect, but on a taut line either swung or retrieved, as most fish them they seem more fish like than insect like. 

You answered that better than I would have.