Lesson 1: Caddis Larva




Hook: Tiemco TMC200 size 12-20. 
Thread: Black 6/o. 
Body: Antron blend  (cream green). 
Thorax: Black Hairtron 

 OPTIONS 

There are several options for this fly. The hook  could be a straight shank hook and a bead could be used for the head. Lead weight used to be used on almost all nymphs before we knew of the enviromental dangers. The color of the dubbing can be changed to better match any local nymph.
 
GOALS 
  1. Learn how to start the thread on the hook.
  2. Learn how to dub. 
  3. Learn to whip finish. 
  4. Learn the basic proportions of caddis larva.

Caddis flies are one of the most abundant forms of food trout can find. The larva take almost a year to grow.  You can find the larva on the bottoms and sides of stream bed rocks and in the stream bed itself.  Freestone streams are the usual home to caddis. They like the fast, rocky bottoms and the riffled water to grow in. This makes the caddis larva a favorite part of a trout’s diet. There are different types of Caddis. They can be very small to very large,  making  sense to have a good supply of large and small flies in a variety of colors.  

If you arrive at a stream and there aren’t visible insects or feeding fish, check the bottom of stream rocks. You’ll find caddis lava and be able to match the size and color of the available larva, and offer trout a food form they are used to seeing and eating.  
The fly you’ll learn here is a simple, yet highly effective fish catcher.  It consists of two different colors of dubbing to form an abdomen area and a thorax . The abdomen is the larger proportion of the fly and the thorax is the smaller, forward part.   On the fly we tie here, the abdomen is 2/3 the length of the body and the thorax area covers the front third of the hook.  We use a creamy green abdomen and black thorax.  Other color combinations can be a tan abdomen/brown thorax, a brown abdomen/black thorax, even a cream abdomen/black thorax.  

The best way to fish a caddis larva is the crimp a split shot 6-12” above the fly on your leader and attach a strike indicator above the fly equal to 1 ‡ times the water depth you will fish. This is the basic nymph fly setup for fishing. Now cast upstream into the riffles and pockets of turbulent water. Fish the fly on stream bottom where trout are used to feeding on the real bugs.  Watch the indicator for the slightest hesitation. If it stops momentarily or darts slightly from side to side, gently lift the rod tip up and be prepared to feel the live sensation of a trout.  Many times you’ll snag on the stream bottom. This is good. If you don’t, you aren’t fishing the fly where trout are used to finding it. 



1. Debarb the hook by pinching down the barb with a pair of pliers. Start the thread by wrapping it back onto itself and trim the loose end.


2. Wrap the shank of the hook to the point directly above the barb. This builds a thread base that will keep materials from slipping around the hook.


3. Dub a thin noodle. Use your thumb and forefinger to apply the dubbing by rolling it onto the thread under pressure. 


4. Wrap the noodle forward to a point 2 or 3 eye widths from the eye of the hook. If you run out of dubbing stop and add some more to the thread. 


5: Add black dubbing to the thread and make a tapered thorax leaving a small amount of room for the head.

6: Whip finish and add a drop of head cement or leave uncemented if you prefer.
 BACK