CADDIS PATTERNS FOR SPRING 2013…Completed

Some that are old, with a new twist for Spring… fellows like these on the East Walker River in Bridgeport, CA:…and something to check out !!!

BLUE RIBBON FLIES – ONLINE CATALOG 2013

Michael’s “leetle frens”…as usual, recipes as I finish each dozen followed by photos of materials , links and additional information (which may or may not be useful… )

COMPLETED…Spring 2013, Caddis box…

PT and Michael plotting strategy on the East Walker River…

DNA SPARKLE DIP (Tan) …

Materials for the DNA SPARKLE DIP…

HOOK:  Daiichi 1120, #14 – #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Light Cahill, Under Abdomen – Tiemco 16/0, Brown – Thorax forward

OVER ABDOMEN: DNA Holo Fusion, Tan then covered with Tan Micro Tubing

WING: White (Clear) Sparkle Emerger Yarn

BEAD: Gold Tungsten, sized to hook

I always tie up one of these simple little patterns to mimic the Amber and Tan Caddis which hatches on the East Walker River, in the Spring. One could also use White Zelon for the wing or Antron yarn or Darlon for a size #18. This DNA material is interesting and has a lot of applications for under wings, wings and tailings. It may be layed flat on the body or by using less, twisted into a rope much like Krystal Flash mixed with Zelon or Antron yarn. When twisting, I like to use these hackle pliers to grab the material:

DO NOT over twist !!!

GRAPHIC CADDIS -Tan- John Barr …for Hydropsyche…

The Danville Flymaster 6/0 threads I like for these two GRAPHIC CADDIS…#2 and #61…

Materials for the GRAPHIC CADDIS…Olive and Tan…

HOOK: TMC 2499 SPBL, #14 – #18

THREAD: OLIVE version Danville #61, Olive 6/0 –TAN version Danville #2, Cream 6/0  – Under abdomen…Tiemco 16/0 Olive or Brown – Thorax forward Olive and Tan versions

TAG: Silver Holographic Tinsel

ABDOMEN: 6/0 Tying Thread

OVER ABDOMEN: Olive or Tan Micro Tubing

THORAX: Natural Gray Ostrich Herl

WINGS/LEGS: Brown Partridge Fibers, V- Notched

This pattern, for me, is one of THE most productive Caddis Pupa I have ever used…there are two basic ways to use the under abdomen threads: Charlie’s Way and John Barr’s Way…One uses white thread… the other, the Danville threads – in colors. I have also experimented with Ultra 70 Denier and Lagartun 74 Denier Threads for the under abdomen…there is also the option of using Prismatic or other markers (or DNA Holo Fusion… ) as an under abdomen…play around and see what works best in your area…

GRAPHIC CADDIS – Olive – John Barr…TMC 2499 SPBL, #14 -#18…can never have enough of these in Olive, tan, Gray, Chartreuse and Brown…

Graphic Caddis and the Serendipity pattern below, are my “Go-To” patterns for the Caddis hatches on the Lower Owens River …

My son Michael…gourmet dining in his new hometown…SOHO, NYC…(Photo: Aimee Brodeur Barker)

CADDISTROPHIC PUPA – Craven/Variant…

Materials for CADDISTROPHIC PUPA…

HOOK:  Daiichi 1120, TMC 2457, #12 – #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Olive or Lagartun 74 Denier, Olive

ABDOMEN: Ice Dub UV Light Olive

WING BUDS: Brown Flexi-Floss

HACKLING: 2-3 CDC, Medium Dun, Fiber Tips – V-Notched

ANTENNAE: 6 strands Nymph Shear, doubled over – Cascade Crest

SHELLBACK: Brown Flexi-Floss

RIB: Metallic Olive Wire, Brassie or Small –  Wapsi

HEAD: 50-50 Mix SLF Spikey Squirrel, Black and SLF Prism, Black

BEAD: Black Tungsten, sized to hook

A Charlie Craven pattern from his book, Charlie’s Fly Box: Signature Flies for Fresh and Salt Water also seen HERE. So I didn’t have that exotic Morpho Fiber from Tiemco, but have a lot of Nymph Shear from Cascade Crest in different colors – I don’t think the Trout will mind….

Michael works the water on the East Walker River on a cold, snowy afternoon…

MOTHER’S DNA DIP – for THAT hatch and – it SLAYS…Matthew’s/Variant

Materials MOTHER’S DNA DIP …

HOOK: Daiichi 1560, #14 – #16

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black

ABDOMEN: Strands of DNA, Holo Fusion, Chartreuse

RIB: Ultra Wire, Black, x-sm

WING: 1 Strand of White Zeloon, cut short -ish

For those who have followed this BLOG for awhile, this will be familiar as a reincarnation of Craig Matthew’s Guide Serendipity. I tie these in many different configurations because they just plain whack a lot of Trout. Some of those variations may be found:

HERE

HERE

HERE

HERE

I don’t go anywhere without a bunch of these, easy to tie, critters in my boxes…

These guys love that “DIP” pattern…

GILL RIBBED LARVAE Tan/Brown…

 Materials GILL RIBBED LARVAE Tan/Brown…

HOOK: Daiichi 1250, #12- #16

WEIGHT: 0.10-).15 Lead or Lead SUB., 8-10 wraps, dependent on hook size

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Dark Brown

ABDOMEN: Tan Micro Floss – Cascade Crest

RIB: Dyed Brown Iridescent Peacock Eye Fiber, wrapped around Brown Ice Thread

This is another, just a bit updated version, of an old free-living  Caddis Larvae pattern that has taken a lot of nice Trout for me over the years…it’s nice to bring some of these older patterns back and the fish have not seen them in many generations…

SPARKLE MESS PUPA -Olive/Brown…

Materials SPARKLE MESS PUPA -Olive/Brown…* NOT SHOWN – Natural Partridge, Nature’s Spirit…

HOOK: Mustad 3906B, #12 – #16

WEIGHT: 0,10 -0.15 Lead or Lead Sb. , 8-10 wraps, dependent on hook size

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Dark Brown

ABDOMEN: Hare’s Ear, Ice Dub, Olive-Brown

RIB: Insect Green Glitter Rib – Cascade Crest

WING(s): Black Thin Sking, cut short

LEGS: Partridge Fibers, Brown-ish

HACKLING: Sparkle Emerger Yarn, Olive,  spun and cut to hook bend or slightly longer

THORAX: SLF Spikey Squirrel dubbing, Brown-Olive

Something fuzzed out and messy to imitate an Emerging Caddis Pupa..I’m playing around with different winging material…Medallion Sheeting will be in the next Emerging Caddis Pupa…

GLO BUBBLE CADDIS PUPA, OLIVE – Mike Mercer/Variant (DNA – UV 2)…

Materials GLO BUBBLE CADDIS PUPA, OLIVE – Mike Mercer/Variant (DNA – UV 2)* NOT SHOWN – Natural Partridge, Nature’s Spirit

HOOK: TMC 3761, #14 – #16

THREAD: Ultra 70 Denier, Olive for underabdomen – Tiemco 16/0, Olive, thorax forward

OVER ABDOMEN: Olive Micro Tubing

BUBBLE SHEATH: Sparkle Emerger Yarn, Light Olive

WING(s): Partridge Fibers, Brown

WING CASE: DNA Holo Fusion, Brown

THORAX: UV 2 Peacock Eye Fibers (2) – Spirit River

BEAD: Copper Tungsten, sized to hook

A Mike Mercer Caddis PUPA that has been around for awhile…done a bit differently…

BUBBLE BUTT PUPA (Chartreuse) – Doudy/Variant…

Materials for BUBBLE BUTT CADDIS PUPA (Chartreuse)…

HOOK: TMC 2488H, #14 – #18

THREAD: Ultra 70 Denier, Fl. Chartreuse – for Under Abdomen,  Tiemcco 16/0, Olive – to secure bead and Thorax forward

BUTT BEAD: Killer Caddis Midge, Caddis Green, #16 – #18, Small – #14

OVER ABDOMEN: Clear Micro Tubing

WING: Brown Partridge, V- Notched

THORAX: Black Ostrich

This is a Gale Doudy pattern that is an alternative to John Barr’s Graphic Caddis. The SBS is at the link,. I posted this pattern a number of years ago and have finally gotten around to tying it…I think the Trouties in here will like it !

MOO with an AM East Walker Brown…as usual…again…

RETRO UPDATING – GILL RIBBED LARVAE – Olive/Red…

Materials for GILL RIBBED LARVAE…

HOOK: Daiichi 1250. #14 – #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black

WEIGHT: 8-10 wraps .0.15 or 0.10 lead or lead sub. – wire depending on hook size

ABDOMEN: Micro Floss. Lt. Olive, Cascade Crest

RIB: One strand, dyed red peacock herl wrapped around Red Ice Thread

THORAX: Two separate strands dyed red peacock herl, wrapped around Tiemco 16/0 thread for durability

This is an up date on a pattern that I successfully used on a lot of Eastern Sierra waters and in Colorado as well, back in the late 70’s and early 80’s…it comes from this interesting book which was published in 1977 and pre-dates that “other” book by GLF…

I will add one or two others from this book, updated of course, before this series of Caddis is completed…

This guy says, “They WORK !!!”…

Brachycentrus larvae – STICK CADDIS –

Materials for Brachycentrus larvae – STICK CADDIS …

HOOK: Daiichi 1560, TMC 3761, #14 – #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16,0 Brown

UNDER ABDOMEN/HEAD: Nature’s Spirit Emergence Dubbing, Caddis Green

RIB: Ice Thread, Brown

ABDOMEN/BODY: 3 Olive PT Fibers/ 2 natural PT Fibers for size #16…all materials are tied towards the bend of the hook

LEGS: 6-8 Small Strands DNA Holo Fusion, clipped short

This is the ubiquitous “Stick Caddis” found hanging off sticks, vegetation and rocks in Eastern Sierra waters and almost everywhere else. It is the Larvae of the famous Mother’s Day Hatch and there are a gazillion of these guys in the Lower Owens and East Walker Rivers. They produce two hatches  on these waters -one in the Spring and a smaller version in the Fall…Tie ’em in #14 – #18 and this portion of the hatch is covered. The Trout will take these case and all !!!

Michael working some swift riffles on the East Walker River…this place is loaded with Caddis of varying species…90% of the time, the Trout in here are not looking up…fish the pattern deep, bouncing the bottom and a lot more hook-ups will result…

Brachycentrus larvae…”STICK CADDIS” – TUNG SH…

Materials for Brachycentrus larvae…”STICK CADDIS” – TUNG SH…

HOOK: TMC 5262, # 14 – #18

THREAD: Tiemco 16/0, Black or Gordon Griffith 14/0, Sheer, Black

RIB: Ice Thread, Gray

UNDER ABDOMEN: Trouthunter Caddis Green Dubbing

OVER ABDOMEN: Moose Body hair – #16, 4 hairs – wrap GENTLY…

HACKLE: Black Starling

BEAD: Black Tungsten, 1 size undersize (ie. 5/64″ for #16)

Another cased Grannom (Mother’s Day Caddis) pattern from Westfly . 

This pattern is meant to be fished dead drift and deep in water like this that holds many different types of cased and free living Caddis…

Turbulent, Caddis -y water on the East Walker River in the “Miracle Mile” section…so, I’d use the cased Caddis as my lead fly and a Cream Miracle Midge, Baetis Nymph or a small attractor like a “Pinkie” or Black rainbow Warrior as my dropper in Mid to late May…just one combo I’d try… first…here…

NEXT: “Getting Jiggy with it”...and MORE…EURO TYPE STUFF…

PT/TB

 

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