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How To Tie Carabou Mouse
Carabou Mouse
Recipe: Hook: Bass Hook Special Use, size 2/0-1 Thread: Danville 210, white Tail: Shammy (painted brown) Body: Carabou (natural) Ears: Shammy (painted brown) Whiskers: Moose Mane
Step 1.
Tie in the tail like you did with the snow shoe rabbit mouse. I’m going to skip a few steps as we tie this fly. I just want to teach you how to tie with carabou. If I skip a step go check it on the snowshow mousepattern. What you want is to cut off a clump of carabou and tie it in at the bend off the hook. When tying this in you will barely tie in the hair at the ends. It’s like tying deer hair in the sense that you won’t tie it in at the middle and we will not spin it around the shank. You’ll hold it into place and make about four wraps on top of each other securing the hair and also keeping it from shifting. Notice the ends and how much is tied in. You will repeat this same step all the way up the fly.
Notice how much excess hair that you’ll need to pull out before tying it in. I think you’ll need a comb to really get it out correctly. I’ve seen people use their hands, but because this hair is softer you will find a lot more hair that is a little harder to get out.
Also when making the cut, make sure you cut it close to your fingers and don’t let go of it until you tie it in. This is about the length you want to tie in. You shouldn’t have to make any cuts on the ends that are on the hook shank.
Step 2.
Tie in the second clump like you did the first one. After you tie it in push it back and do this same step until you get up to where the ears will be tied in (a little past the middle). Make sure you pack it tight before applying the next clump.
Step 3.
Notice the stopping point. You’ll tie in the ears next. You’ll do it the same way you did the other mouse pattern.
Step 4.
Tie in the ears making a few figure eights.
Step 5.
Tie in another clump of carabou.
Step 6.
Tie in the whiskers using moose mane.
Step 7.
Tie in another clump or as many as it takes to get up to the eye.
Step 8.
Whip finish the fly and glue the thread. Trim the face to shape. I like to trim mine until I get the ears. Watch out and don’t cut the whiskers. The last thing to do is trim the bottom flat and round it off in the side until you meet the longer hair. Don’t trim to close or you’ll notice your thread wraps.
