October Caddis Time

Leaves are starting to turn. There's a crispness in the air, and the last of the big bugs are about to pop.

It's fall - October caddis time.

Here's a weighted wet-fly patten that I use during the fall. It's a great addition to your Euro-nymph rig or fished alone. Make sure you swing the fly at the end of the drift and hold on.

October Caddis

Hook: Standard Wet Fly Hook (Mustad S80-3906 or similar)
Size: 8 - 12
Head: Black Tungsten Bead sized to hook
Thread: Brown 6/0 or 8/0
Rib: Red and Gold wire (.32 gauge Parawire or UTC Size BR)
Abdomen: Equal parts, Hareline Ice Dub Orange, Tan UV Ice Dub,
and Hareline Rabbit Dubbin HD15 (Hand blended)
Thorax: Hairline Ice Dub Peacock
Rib: Gold Wire
Legs: Hungarian Partridge

Caddis, Brook, Brown and Rainbows

The month of May here in the east has been wet, and gray (Chicago gray).  On the upside when the water levels are good and when wadeable the fishing is stellar.

One of the patterns that's been working well this spring is my Anchor Caddis.  A variation on Hans Stephenson "The Bomb."  It's a generic Caddis Larva that I tie with or with out legs.

Anchor Caddis

Hook: Mustad 3399 Size 6 - 10
Head: Tungsten Bead to Match Hook
Weight: .032 Non-lead Wire
Thread: Olive 6/0
Tail: Natural CDC
Ribbing: Green Wire
Abdomen: Olive Squirrel Dubbing
Hot Spot: Hairline Hot Orange UV Ice Dub
Thorax: Hairline Black UV Ice Dub
Legs*:  Hungary Partridge or any Hen Hackle.

Here are the results:

Your results may vary.

UV Chewee Rock Worm

UV Chewee Rock Worm

Hook – Any Heavy Grub hook
Size – 8 - 12
Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Black or Olive
Head – Black Tungsten Bead
Thorax – Hairline Black UV Ice Dub
Abdomen – Caddis-Green UV Chewee Skin
Rib – .32 gauge Green Parawire

While tying at a CJTU meeting I started playing around with UV Chewee Skin.  I've seen it on the web and at the shows, so I've decided adapted it with one of my most productive patterns (Green Rock Worm).  Rhyacophila larvae are abundant in most freestone streams and because of behavioural drift they are always breaking free from the bottom and tumbling down stream.  This pattern and all Rhyacophila patterns work great in a Czech/Euro nymph set-up.  It's a quick pattern to tie and follow the K.I.S.S. rule.

 1. Mash down barb, slide on bead and secure in wire.

 2. Tie in UV Chewee Skin.

3. Wrap UV Chewee Skin forward.

 4. Wind wire forward to create a ribbing.

5. Dub Thorax and whip finish.

Umpqua's Scuba Nymph

At the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show Umpqua Feather Merchants unveiled their new flies for the 2011 season.  Here is one of the flies that caught my eye and will be very easy to tie.  Here is the recipe as I see it.

More to come...

Scuba Nymph

Size – 12-18 Grub hook
Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Brown
Head – Tungsten Bead
Legs – Rubber Legs Mini
Thorax: Peacock or Peacock Ice Dub
Body and Tail – Pheasant tail
Rib – Copper wire
Back – Crystal Flash