Bodkin / Patterns

Outrigger Caddis

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, 14-16
  • Thread Olive 8/0

Materials

  • D-Rib / Larva Lace (body) Tan or olive d rib larva lace (1 length)
  • Foam strip (head/post) Tan or olive furry foam (1 narrow strip)
  • Elk hair (wing) Natural / bleached elk hair (1 small bunch)
  • Rooster hackle Grizzly hackle (1 feather)
  • Dry-fly dubbing (head) Olive ice dub (pinch)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base, tie in the D-Rib at the bend, and wrap a segmented body forward to the 65% mark; tie off and trim.
  2. Tie a narrow foam strip on top pointing forward over the eye; it will become both the standing post and the folded-back head.
  3. Stack a small bunch of elk hair and tie it in as a downwing over the body, tips reaching the bend.
  4. Stand the foam strip upright as a post and wrap a grizzly hackle around its base parachute-style, 4-5 turns.
  5. Gather the hackle fibers to the two sides and lock them there with figure-8 thread wraps so they splay out like outriggers, giving the fly its self-righting float.
  6. Dub a small thorax, then fold the foam back over the thorax to form a head and tie it down behind the eye.
  7. Whip finish under the foam head and add a drop of cement.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns