Hammerhead

The Hammerhead, created by Ian Anderson in 2009, is a versatile fly designed to imitate various prey species such as sculpins, crawdads, and gobies, making it particularly effective for targeting carp in the Great Lakes region. Its unique design features a combination of glow-in-the-dark Mylar, rubber legs, and a rabbit zonker strip, providing both visibility and lifelike movement. The fly's weighted body ensures it sinks quickly to the bottom, where carp often feed, and its materials create a natural profile that entices strikes. Over the years, the Hammerhead has evolved, with variations tailored to different species and fishing conditions, solidifying its place as a go-to pattern for carp anglers.

After the cast, let the Hammerhead fall slack and settle on its side for one heartbeat before you straighten the line. Those lead wraps and the zonker strip make the fly right itself with a slow “head dip,” perfectly imitating a crayfish committing to the bottom. Carp often rush in and eat it before you even begin the retrieve.