Fly Tyer's Corner

by Bill Carnazzo

Slow Water Caddis

This Rene' Harrop pattern is designed to be a bit on the "realistic" side, as opposed to the more "impressionistic" fly designs. While it clearly works anywhere caddis adults are present, it is designed for stillwater, meadow streams and where water conditions are "low and slow". It is, however, quite simple to tie, and if fished properly will be effective.

MATERIALS

Hook: TMC 100 or 900BL; Mustad 94845; #12-18

Thread: Olive 6/0 or 8/0

Body: Light olive rabbit or poly dubbing

Wing: Light tan hen hackle, lacquered

Hackle: Ginger, wrapped over thorax, clipped on bottom

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mount thread on hook and dub a sparse abdomen, ending at a point about 1/3 shank length behind eye.

2. At that same point, tie in ginger hackle.

3. Dub a thorax over front third of hook, making it a bit larger than abdomen. Leave about 2 eye widths in front of thorax bare hook, so that wings can be placed here without crowding eye.

4. Wind hackle through thorax, and tie off in front of thorax, still leaving the indicated space behind eye.

5. Take two hen hackles and prepare them as follows:

* measure so that point of hackle is about 1-1/2 times length of shank (this point will be the wing surface).

* cut away excess below the measured point, leaving the exposed stems.

* using Dave's flexament (or similar glue), put a drop on each point, keeping them individual and apart.

* run the point through once between thumb and forefinger, spreading the glue evenly across the point.

* set aside and allow to dry completely (hint: prepare a dozen or so at a time)

6. When the points are dry, set them alongside each other, with the convex curves together ("shiny" side out), so they are "matched".