Glass Bead Caddis Pupa

(Click on the image to get a larger jpeg version)

Materials

Hook: wet fly hook

Thread: green

Butt: greyish green dubbing

Body: 3 green glass beads

Thorax: natural grey filoplume

Hackle: any olive soft hackle (this uses pheasant)

Note:

There are an infinite number of possible combinations for this fly -- change the colors and size to match your local bugs. This particular one is intended to imitate a Hydropsychidae (McKenzie Caddis) pupa.

Tying Instructions

1.

Pinch down the barb and attach the thread to the hook. Start building an underbody of thread so the beads are snug on the hook. You may have to remove the hook from the vise and check with one of the beads periodically until you get the thickness just right. You want them snug, but not so tight that you can't move them around.

2.

Tie off and clip the thread, and thread three (depending on the hook and bead size this number may change -- you'll want enough beads to cover about 60% of the hook) beads onto the hook. Push them all the way to the eye at first.

3.

Re-attach the thread near the bend of the hook and dub in about a bead sized ball of fur. Tie off and cut the thread again. Now slide the beads back until they are flush against the ball of dubbing.

4.

Re-attach the thread in front of the beads and tie in a grey filoplume. Make a few wraps and tie it off. (you can keep the thread attached this time)

5.

Tie in the soft hackle, tip first, and fold the hackle fibers back towards the bend as you wind it. A vague description of folding hackle is given in the description of the Montreal.

6.

Finish off the head, and you are done!

dmason@zebu.uoregon.edu