Bodkin / Patterns

Hen Wing Caddis

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, 14-18
  • Thread Tan 8/0

Materials

  • Dry-fly dubbing Tan or olive dry fly dubbing (small pinch)
  • Hen hackle tips Dun hen hackle tips (2 feathers)
  • Dry-fly hackle Ginger hackle (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Start the thread mid-shank and dub a slim, slightly tapered abdomen from the bend forward to the 70% mark. Use half the dubbing you think.
  2. Select two matched hen hackle tips and measure them to reach just past the bend. Strip the fluff and marry them so the tips flare slightly apart.
  3. Bind the hen tips in flat and tent-shaped over the back at the 70% mark, concave sides down so they hug the body like a caddis wing. Snip the butts.
  4. Tie in a ginger hackle by the stem just ahead of the wing.
  5. Take 3-4 turns of hackle in front of the wing, then trim the barbs flush across the bottom so the fly sits low in the film.
  6. Whip finish a neat head and add a tiny drop of cement.

Tying videos

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