Bodkin / Patterns

Braided Caddis Pupa-Beadhead

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook 2XL curved caddis/scud hook, #12-16
  • Thread Brown 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Bead Gold bead (Tungsten or brass, sized to hook)
  • Abdomen Caddis green or tan (Braided body cord or midge braid)
  • Thorax Brown/hare's ear (Dubbing, picked out)
  • Legs/collar Brown partridge (1 soft-hackle turn)
  • Antennae Wood duck (Few fibers (optional))

How to tie it

  1. Slide the gold bead to the eye and mount the hook.
  2. Start thread behind the bead and lay a base back to the bend.
  3. Tie in the braided body cord at the bend and wrap it forward in touching turns to the two-thirds mark. The braid gives a natural segmented, translucent abdomen.
  4. Dub a fuller brown thorax up to the bead and pick it out for a buggy look.
  5. Wrap one turn of brown partridge as a soft-hackle collar and sweep the fibers back.
  6. If desired, add a few wood-duck fibers as short antennae.
  7. Whip finish behind the bead and cement.

Tying videos

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