Bodkin / Patterns

Rod Zavaduk's Caddis Pupa

Nymph · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Tyer Recipe

  • Hook Partridge of Redditch Sprout Wet, #12 (a 14 is the best size)
  • Thread Dark mocha brown 12/0

Materials

  • SLF dubbing (Dave Whitlock blend) Red fox squirrel nymph thorax (A tiny amount. The body is small and scruffy)
  • Ice dub UV shrimp pink (A small pinch for the shuck)
  • CDC Tan cdc (Half a dozen to a dozen fibers)
  • Hen feather Mottled hen feather (1 (Rod uses two; one is simpler))

How to tie it

  1. Start dark mocha brown thread on the hook and spin a tiny amount of the red fox squirrel SLF blend onto it, twisting it tight.
  2. Wrap a short, scruffy body forward to the 70% point, adding a touch more dubbing if needed. Sweep the fibers back out of the way.
  3. Take a small pinch of UV shrimp pink ice dub, roll it between your fingers into a little shuck, and tie it in on top at the front of the body. Fold it back over itself and bind it down.
  4. Clean up the tie-in with a couple of wraps, then pinch the shuck off to about the length of the body.
  5. Peel a few fibers off one side of a tan CDC feather, half a dozen to a dozen, and tie them in on top as an underwing over the shuck. Trim the butts.
  6. Prepare a mottled hen feather by pulling the very tip out so the feather forms a V shape, then pull down the barbs you need for the wing.
  7. Pinch the hen barbs together and tie them in on top with a soft loop, centred on the shank, wing about body-length. Trim to length if needed.
  8. Clean up the head and finish with a couple of whip finishes, then snip the thread.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns