Fly of the Month 5.18
Egg Laying Caddis
Difficulty: Easy

Hook:  Curved Terrestrial 3x long TDE size 16,14,12
Thread:  Tan or Cream 8/0
Butt:  Insect Green Caddis LifeCycle Dubbing
Abdomen:  Peacock Herl 
Thorax:  Peacock Herl
Wingcase:  Bleached Elk Hair

1. Debarb and mount the hook.  Tie on thread two or three eyelengths from the hook eye and advance to the point above the hook barb.  Let the bobbin hang.
2. Dub one or two inches of the insect green dub in a tight noodle and make two or three wraps of dubbing and overlap the remainder to build a small butt section of green color.  Let the bobbin hang.
3.  Select two strands of peacock herl and tie in immediately in front of the butt section.  Tie in by the butt section of the herl.  Advance the thread to the two thirds mark and let the bobbin hang.  Wrap both herls in tight, touching turns to the two thirds mark, where the thread is waiting and tie off the herl and trim the waste. Let the bobbin hang.
4. Select a small section (half a pencil thickness) of elk.  Remove the underfur as much as possible and stack the tips in a hair stacker.  Once the tips are aligned, measure the length to be very slightly longer than the hook curve and tie in immediately in front of the herl.  Use two or so soft wraps to position the elk hair and check the length one last time.  Once you are happy bind the elk firmly by advancing the thread through the hair toward the tip.  Return the thread and make two or three firm turns, one on top of another, whip finish and let the bobbin hang.  
5. Using the turned down eye as a guide, trim the longer waste hair and an angle in one swift cut.  Any missed ones, cut to match the angle. Cut the thread close to the hook.  
6. Adding a drop of head cement or Z-ment at the thread tie in can aid in preventing the hair wing from slipping.

A discussion on selecting flies by Tom Adams. 
Date:  May 17th at 7 p.m. 
​More info: Monthly Meeting information
​Tom is a native Charlottean who grew up fishing Lake Wylie with his father.  Tom's dad, who was born in Meatcamp, Watauga County, introduced Tom to trout fishing on the Watauga River when he was in 12 years old.  A lifelong flyfisherman, it has been a passion throughout his life.  Joining Rocky River Trout Unlimited was a profound change and led to his being chapter President for two years in 2013 and 2014.  A professional advertising photographer, Tom was the head of the advertising photography for Belk Inc, where he worked for twenty five years. Currently retired and continuing to tie flies commercially with several successful personal fly patterns, he fishes at every opportunity. Tom's favorite waters are the Davidson, the Madison, and any water in Yellowstone National Park.