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Lick-logs and Caddis Hatches
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Hook: 3906B Mustad or other nymph hook
Dubbing: Fur, natural or synthetic
Ribbing: Silver wire or fine Krystal Flash
Hackle: Grouse or hen or other soft hackle
Wings: Goose or turkey wing quill
Tying Instructions:
1. Apply lead wire to the hook if weight is desired.
2. Dub body and rib with fine silver wire or Krystal Flash.
3. For the wing pods, separate three or four fibers from a goose or turkey wing quill. Fold in half and tie in one on each side. Make sure the wing pods slant slightly downward.
4. Tie in grouse hackle or other soft hackle, and wind two or three turns.
5. With the thumb and forefinger, gently stroke the grouse hackle fibers so they flow backwards over the wings and body. Take a few turns of thread to secure the hackle in its slightly backwards position.
6. Dub dark fur for the thorax.
7.Whip finish the head.
8. Brush out the thorax or pick out fibers.
9. Apply head cement.
David Lucca is a commercial fly tyer. He is regular contributor to Midwest Fly Fishing -watch for his writings on fly tying in every issue.
By David J. Lucca
"Those trout sure put the ol' britches on me today. Caught a couple of small ones is all."
Colorful language from my transplanted southern friend Angus Kiser, who slumped down beside me on the bank. It was a favorite saying he used when he'd been had. I heard this expression often during the trout season and found myself using it, especially when caddis were hatching.
Like my frustrated friend, in addition to having the britches put on me, I was also taken to the woodshed, put over a lick-log and given a good whooping--some language from my own past.
Fishing to a hatch of caddisflies can be difficult anytime but when the trout are feeding selectively on the emerging pupae, it can drive an angler to the river bank. Most inexperienced fly fishers, in response to seeing caddis on or near the water, tie on a dry fly imitation (usually an Elk-hair Caddis or a Henryville Special) and begin casting. Frequently the trout ignore the fly. With experience, one realizes that most of the rises that occur during a hatch of these tent-winged flies are to the pupae as they ascend to the surface and emerge, rather than to the adults. To be successful, one has to use an imitation of the pupae, provide movement to the fly and fish it at the depth where the trout are taking the naturals. Imitations such as soft hackles, or winged wet flies, or a somewhat more realistic imitation as described below are effective.
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copyright Midwest Fly Fishing Magazine 1999
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