Bodkin / Patterns

Missing Link Caddis Mercer's

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook standard dry-fly (e.g. Tiemco 100), 14-18
  • Thread olive 70 denier

Materials

  • Thread body Olive thread (1 spool)
  • Krystal Flash rib Pearl flashabou (1 strand)
  • Ice Dub thorax Peacock ice dub (pinch)
  • Antron legs/shuck Gray or tan yarn (small bunch)
  • Elk hair wing Natural or bleached hair (1 small clump)
  • Rooster hackle Dun hackle (1 feather)

How to tie it

  1. Start the thread and tie in a short gray/tan Antron trailing shuck at the bend, no longer than the gap.
  2. Tie in a strand of pearl Krystal Flash for the rib.
  3. Build a smooth tapered olive thread body to the 65% mark, then counter-rib with the Krystal Flash in 5-6 open turns and tie off.
  4. Split a few Antron fibers to each side as sparse caddis legs at the front of the body.
  5. Stack a small clump of elk hair and tie it in as a low downwing, tips to the bend, and trim the butts to a short head.
  6. Tie in a dun hackle and wind 3-4 turns through a pinch of peacock Ice Dub at the thorax, then tie off.
  7. Whip finish and add a small drop of head cement.

Tying videos

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