Bodkin / Patterns

Little Black Caddis

Dry Fly · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, 16-20
  • Thread Black 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Dry-fly dubbing (body) Black or dark gray dry fly dubbing (small pinch)
  • Deer or elk hair (wing) Dark dun / black-dyed deer or elk hair (small clump)
  • Dry-fly hackle (optional) Black or grizzly saddle hackle (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread behind the eye and run a smooth base to the bend.
  2. Dub a slim tapered body forward, stopping at the 75% mark to leave room for the wing and head.
  3. Clean and stack a small clump of dark deer hair; measure it so the tips reach just past the bend, then bind it down over the front of the body with the tips angling back over the shank.
  4. Optionally wrap 2-3 turns of black or grizzly hackle in front of the wing for a bit of float and legginess, then tie off.
  5. Lift the butts, trim them square to form a short blunt head, and cover the trimmed butts with thread.
  6. Whip finish and add a tiny drop of head cement.

Tying videos

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