McTage's Foam Trouser Worm Carp Fly

4/25/2013 - This post has been updated to reflect an evolved version of the Foam Trouser Worm.

This post details the Foam Trouser Worm, a later post will explain the leather version.

The standard San-Juan Worm may be a good carp fly.  It may even be a great carp fly, but I find it awkward to fish for carp and it lacks versatility for different presentations.  In order to have a better carp fly I wanted to improve on the standard San-Juan Worm in several major areas. 

1. Fall, strip and sit hook-up.  A hook-down carp fly is just not natural.  The idea to go full head-stand came later.
2. A fly with some decent action that can work on the drop, twitch AND strip as the circumstances dictate.
3. A fly with some decent durability.

The Foam Trouser Worm and it's leather variant satisfy all these requirements..

MATERIALS:

1. Hook:  Size 8 Scorpion Gaper.
2. Thread:  UTC red waxed 280
3. Bead: 3.25mm black brass bead
4. Eyes: #6 Stainless bead-chain.
5. Body:  15lb Red Amnesia Mono filament
6. Tail:
1. Uni Big Fly Thread, red
2. Spirit river extra small glass bead
3. 2.7mm black brass bead
4. 14 1/16" thick, 1/8" diameter foam plugs made with a hole punch. 

DIRECTIONS: