Post by brentkelley on Jul 22, 2007 21:38:41 GMT -5
Hook- Daiichi 1130 #18
Thread- Rusty Dun 8/0
Tail (shuck)- Orange Antron
Abdomen- Olive or natural CDC feather tied in at tip
Rib- Fine Gold Wire
Wing- Deer Hair
Thorax- Olive Superfine dubbing
Tying notes:
Tie the abdomen feather in by the tip and twist to form a loose rope. Wrap it up the hook shank, turning one half twist for each full wrap. Rib with the fine wire and then trim the longer, loose fibers. A little shaggy is not a bad thing.
This is far and away the best caddis emerger pattern I have ever used on any stream. Its biggest drawback is that it is extremely difficult to see under some conditions and many people refuse to use it for that reason. The only thing visible when the fly is sitting correctly is the very top of the short wing.
I learned about this pattern from Bob Morrissey at Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone and was shown how to tie it by Craig Matthews. The CDC tying technique is quite unique and creates an unusual effect.
Whenever I find fish feeding on caddis but I can’t get them to respond to traditional patterns, I always tie this fly on. Almost invariably it proves to be the one caddis pattern that will take fish even when they are in a highly selective mode.
I always tie this on a #18 hook, but have varied the colors of the body and wing at times. The last time I checked these flies out at Blue Ribbon, I noticed that the wing was tied in with a much greater perpendicular orientation. Craig Matthews was not around to explain why this change was made at the time, but I found the new style to be equally effective on tough trout.