Designed to imitate the caddis larva, encased in its home made of river or lake-bed debris, this should be fished on the deck. This particular pattern incorporates crimped deer hair legs – a nice touch that gives it that extra bit of realism. Try this on the point position on a floating line; fish it either upstream and dead-drifted back with the current, or with other leaded patterns on a short line, Czech nymph style. Tie this using different amounts of lead, more for fast currents, less for slower ones.
Hook: Long shank, size 8 to 14
Underbody: Lead wire
Thread: Black
Body: Hare’s ear/deer hair mix
Thorax: Fine black dubbing
Legs: Black deer hair fibres
How to tie the fly
 1. Slide a small, black tungsten bead up to the eye of the hook. |
 2. Make two layers of lead wire using touching turns to form an underbody. |
 3. Wind down over the lead, back up and down again, then add a couple of spots of superglue to secure the lead. |
 4. Mix your hare’s ear and deer hair in the palm of your hand. |
 5. Form a tight dubbing rope and wind up over the lead to create the body. |
 6. Tie in three to four black deer hair fibres on the underside of the hook (use figure-of-eight turns with the thread so it sits at 90 degrees to the hook shank). |
 7. Dub the thread using a very small pinch of dubbing to form a tight rope. |
 8. Form a tight thorax behind the legs, which will kick the legs forwards. |
 9. Carefully trim the legs short and use a finger and thumb to put kinks in them. Whip finish and cut the thread. |
