Bodkin / Patterns

Callies Jiggable Caddis

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook barbless jig hook (e.g. Fulling Mill jig), point riding up, 12-16
  • Thread Olive or tan 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Bead Slotted tungsten, copper/gold/black (1)
  • Body Olive/tan caddis dubbing or Vernille (as needed)
  • Rib Fine gold/copper wire (1 strand)
  • Hot spot Fluorescent orange/pink thread or dubbing (trace)
  • Collar/legs Mottled partridge or CDC (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Slide the slotted tungsten bead onto the jig hook and start the thread behind it (the jig rides point-up to dodge snags).
  2. Tie in the wire rib, then dub or wrap a slim olive/tan caddis-larva body forward, leaving room at the front.
  3. Counter-rib the wire forward in even turns for segmentation and durability.
  4. Take a turn of mottled partridge (or a sparse CDC collar) behind the bead for legs and movement.
  5. Add a small hot-spot thread or dubbing collar between the collar and bead as a trigger. Why: a hot spot at the head draws eyes to the drifting larva in fast, broken water.
  6. Whip finish behind the bead.

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