Fly Tying

Vis-Wing Caddis
by Del Striegel
originated by Dennis Potter

Hook:  TMC #16-#18 or favorite dry fly hook

Thread:  8/0 to match body color

Body:  Superfine dubbing to match natural

Wing:  EP Fibers or Hi-Vis wing material, tan or gray

Hackle:  Light dun dry fly, slightly under-sized

Tying Notes:

The Vis-Wing Caddis starts with a dry fly hook; add a short, dubbed, bulbous body, extending from over the hook barb and tapering down to nothing just past the middle of the hook. Use a synthetic wing and lots of hackle.  "Lots of hackle" means a full one-third of the hook shank is wrapped with under sized hackle and plenty of it. Far too many adult caddis patterns are under hackled. You need to be able to pop, skitter, and twitch your caddis pattern when imitating the adult caddis.

Two wing colors, tan and gray, are needed for this fly. These stiff, slightly crinkled synthetics are waterproof. Don't use dubbing that is too dark. Most dubbing, both natural and synthetic, will darken when it becomes wet or when fly dressing is applied.

Eastern basic Caddisfly Patterns

Body/Wing      Size

Tan/Tan           #12, #14, #16, #18

Olive/Tan         #16, #18

Black/Gray      #16

Green/Tan       #16, #18