Opal Mirage tinsel, medium Opal mirage tinsel medium (one length)
Foam, 2mm Tan fly tying foam (one cut strip (On The Dropper foam cutter))
Yearling elk hair (one stacked clump)
Dry fly hackle (1 feather)
UV resin Clear uv resin (on the head)
How to tie it
Start tan 70 denier behind the eye of a size 14 Firehole 413, take a couple of wraps back to anchor it and snip the tag.
Tie medium opal Mirage tinsel in and bind it well into the bend, down to about where the hook starts to straighten out again, then bring the thread forward to an eye-length behind the eye and wrap the tinsel forward in touching turns. Tie it off with two wraps over the top and pull backwards to lock it.
Cut a strip of tan 2mm foam and tie it on top of the shank, measuring so the free end runs from the tie-in point back the same distance again. The finished body ends up about a hook length.
Take a healthy clump of yearling elk, more than you think you need. Hold it by the tips and flick the butts to loosen the pile, then pull out the shorts and underfur before stacking. Even after several passes you will still be pulling fluff out.
Tie the wing in with the tips slightly past the end of the foam, because on a real caddis the wings are longer than the body, then trim the butts as close as you can so nothing crowds the eye.
Prepare the hackle by stripping a few fibers from the shiny side, then tie it in with the dull side facing the body. Tied this way the fibers curve backwards as you wrap, which keeps the eye clear and makes tying it off simple.
Wrap the hackle forward to the eye. Use fewer turns than instinct says. The foam does the floating here, so when you think one more wrap would be good, stop instead. Whip finish and seal the head with UV resin.