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Tier's Bench |
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Elk-hair Caddis
Fly Fisherman Magazine |
The Elk-hair Caddis is one of the all-time great flies; we find this variation of it to be even better. Deer hair more closely imitates the darker caddis that predominate in many waters, particularly in the West, and as most fly fishermen know, a darker pattern is more visible in low light--morning, evenings, and overcast days--when caddis are active. In larger sizes, we dress this fly extra bushy for added buoyancy and fish a bead-head dropper from the bend.
Recipe
HOOK: Tiemco 900BL, or equivalent dry-fly hook, #10-#16.
THREAD: Dark brown 6/0.
HACKLE: Dark dun rooster.
BODY: Olive Haretron dubbing, or color to match natural.
WING: Natural dun deer hair.
Tying Instructions
Mount the hackle by the tip at the rear of the hook, dub the body, and then wrap the hackle forward in 8-10 wraps. Clip the bottom of the hackle flat just below hook point, or closer to the body for a fly that rides lower in the water. The deer hair wing should not extend beyond the bend of the hook.
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CDC Comparadun (BWO)
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CDC Comparadun (BWO)
Description
The Comparadun is probably one of the most widely used patterns in fly fishing, for the eminently good reason that it catches trout. In small sizes, though, the tapering, threadlike tips of deer hair--the traditional wing material--produce an indistinct silhouette and poor flotation, and deer hair can be fussy to tie on small hooks. Substituting CDC makes a very visible and buoyant fly with a clean silhouette. Since you can’t use fly floatant on CDC, use a non-absorbent dubbing, such as fine poly, for the body. Colors and sizes can be altered for other species--PMDs, Tricos, even midges.
Recipe
HOOK: Tiemco 900BL, or equivalent dry-fly hook, #16-22.
THREAD: Black 12/0.
TAIL: Light dun rooster hackle fibers, tied split.
BODY: Fine olive poly dubbing
WING: Light dun or natural CDC fibers.
Tying Instructions
For the wing material you have a few different choices. You can strip the fibers from 2-4 CDC feathers, bundle them and clip them to length. Or you can use the aligned tips of 2-4 feathers; if the feather stems are thick near the tip, snip them out. The easiest way, though, is to use 2-4 CDC “puffs”; these feathers have barbs of nearly uniform length and are virtually stem-free. They’re perfect for the job. |
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CDC Puff Emerger--BWO |
CDC Puff Emerger--BWO
Description
This emerger style is becoming increasing popular, and with good reason. We’ve seen several versions of this design from various parts of the country. The pattern is particularly good on fussy fish, and sizes and colors can be altered to match any hatch. The body should float in or beneath the film, so don’t use any floatant on it. In fact, you can squeeze a little water into the body to saturate it; it then hangs down in the water, suspended beneath the puff.
Recipe
HOOK: Tiemco 900BL, or equivalent dry-fly hook, #16-#22.
THREAD: Tan 8/0.
TAIL: Natural or light dun CDC fibers or Antron yarn.
BODY: Fine olive dubbing.
WING: Natural or light dun CDC.
Tying Instructions
To make the wing: Strip fibers from 2-6 CDC feathers and form a bundle. Place the center of the bundle at the wing mounting point, and wrap the thread tightly over the middle of the bundle. Pull up both ends of the bundle, and take 3-5 thread wraps horizontally around the base to consolidate and post-up the fibers. Pull the fibers vertically, and trim to length. Dub the body after the wing is finished.
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Trico spinner fall
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Trico spinner fall
Description
This is our favorite pattern for a Trico spinner fall. It floats flush in the film, presents a good silhouette, and best of all, is easy to see. The trout aren't at all bothered by the admittedly unnatural tuft of orange; they either don't notice or don't care.
Recipe
HOOK: TMC 900BL or equivalent dry-fly hook, #18-#22.
THREAD: Black 12/0.
TAIL: Three light dun rooster hackle fibers, tied splayed.
ABDOMEN: Olive fine poly dubbing.
THORAX: Dark brown fine poly dubbing.
HACKLE: Light dun rooster.
WING: Orange poly yarn (parachute post).
Tying Instructions
This is our favorite pattern for a Trico spinner fall. It floats flush in the film, presents a good silhouette, and best of all, is easy to see. The trout aren't at all bothered by the admittedly unnatural tuft of orange; they either don't notice or don't care. The two- color body here imitates the color of the female Trico in the waters we generally fish; in other locations, the abdomen on the female may be a paler olive, cream, or almost white. The fly body can also be tied all in black to imitate male spinners |
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Warren's March Brown Emerger
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Warren's March Brown Emerger
Submitted by Ted Leeson and Jim Schollmeyer
Description
This tuft-style emerger designed by Oregon tyer Gary Warren is reminiscent of another fine pattern, the Tom Thumb.
Recipe
HOOK: Tiemco 900BL, or equivalent dry-fly hook, #12-14.
THREAD: Tan 8/0.
TAIL: Brown hen hackle fibers or brown Antron yarn.
ABDOMEN: Olive-brown dubbing.
THORAX: Olive-brown dubbing.
WINGCASE: Deer hair.
WING: Tips of deer-hair wing case, flared 180-degrees, extending out 45-degrees over the hook eye.
Tying Instructions
This tuft-style emerger designed by Oregon tyer Gary Warren is reminiscent of another fine pattern, the Tom Thumb. This version is tied to imitate a March Brown mayfly, but sizes and colors can be altered to match any mayfly hatch. Since the body of the fly is designed to ride beneath the surface film, use an absorbent dubbing--natural fur, for instance--rather than poly dubbing, which floats. To fish the fly, grease only the deer hair, not the abdomen, and the fly will ride in the proper orientation--body below the film, and tuft above.
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Brown Bivisible
Submitted by Ted Leeson and Jim Schollmeyer
Description
Once a trout-fishing standard, the Bivisible seems to have fallen out of fashion. But it’s still as effective as it always was. A great searching pattern, it can be fished dead-drift or skated on rivers, or skittered on a lake. Ginger is another good color.
Recipe
HOOK: Tiemco 900BL, or equivalent dry-fly hook, #12-#18.
THREAD: Black 8/0.
TAIL: Brown rooster hackle barbs.
BODY: Rear 2/3, brown hackle; front 2/3, white or cream hackle.
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