Bodkin / Patterns

Mathews' X Caddis

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, 14-18
  • Thread Olive or tan 8/0

Materials

  • Antron or Zelon (trailing shuck) Amber/gold antron or zelon (1 sparse tuft)
  • Dry-fly dubbing (body) Olive, tan, or gray to match hatch (small pinch)
  • Deer hair (wing) Natural deer hair (1 small clump)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread and run a base to the bend.
  2. Tie in a sparse tuft of amber Antron or Zelon as a trailing shuck no longer than half the shank. This is the empty pupal husk the emerging caddis is climbing out of.
  3. Dub a slightly tapered body forward to the 80% mark; keep it thin, half the dubbing you think.
  4. Stack a clump of natural deer hair and tie it in as a down-wing reaching just past the bend, tips even.
  5. Lift the butts and trim them square over the eye, Elk Hair Caddis style, to form a short flared head.
  6. Whip finish behind the eye and cement the wraps.

Tying videos

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