Lesson 5
    LIGHT CAHILL 
 
Hook: Tiemco TMC 100 size 14-20 

Thread: Cream 8/o 

Wing: Woodduck mallard flank 

Tail: Cream hackle fibers 

Body: Cream dubbing 

Hackle: Cream hackle 
 

OPTIONS
 
The color of this fly can be changed to match almost any mayfly. A quill could be used for the body. 
 
GOALS 
 
1. Learn to tie a basic dry fly wing. 
2. Learn dry fly tailing 
3. Learn to tie dry fly hackle.		        Finally, you’re going to learn to tie a dry fly.  The Light Cahill is a very simple, yet highly effective pattern that combines all the elements needed to successfully imitate an adult may fly. 
      The materials you will use are different from the nymphs and streamers fished under the water. The stiff hackle fibers of the tail and the collared hackle around the wings stand the fly on the stream surface.  Dry flies are best tied with the sparsest amount of materials.  You already know how to dub, mount  tails and proportion your bodies. Now you’ll learn to mount wings and dry fly hackle. So you already know how to tie most of the fly. 
      Swapping colors in the hackle and dubbing you can imitate predominant colors like olive, gray and tan.  This fly was chosen because using lemon wood duck or teal flank feathers are easy to work with and a good fly that is easy to tie is the best way to learn. 
      Most fly fishers enjoy the aspect of dry fly fishing because the trout rises to the surface and before your very eyes, eats the fly!   Taking trout on dry flies is the most fun and exciting way to catch them.  
      Remember how you cast upstream and tried to have the fly float to the fish in a drag free approach, watching the strike indicator. This time you watch the fly. The fish can grab the fly in a blink of the eye or lazily rise and casually sip it in. The difference is you witness it and your heart rises to your threat in disbelief!  Trout fishing doesn’t get any better than this! 



 
1. Debarb the hook. Tie in the thread and wrap to the 50% mark. Wrap forward to the 25% mark. Tie in the wing and wrap back to secure the ends. Trim and return the thread to the tie-in point. The length of the wing should be equal to the length of the shank of the hook.
2. Pull the wings back a take several turns in front to set the wings upright. Divide the wing equally and wrap figure eight style between the two sides.
3. Wrap the thread back to the bend of the hook and tie in the tail fibers. Trim the ends and wrap back to the bend.
4. Apply a very thin coat of dubbing to the thread and wrap a slim body to the mid point of the hook.
5. Tie in the hackle feather by the butt. The curve of the feather should be up. Advance the thread to the eye of the hook.
6. Wrap the feather forward making 3 turns before you reach the wing and then 3 turns after the wing. Tie off the feather and make a small head. Whip finish. 
 
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