October Caddis
Fly of the Month 09.11 October Caddis
This “fly of the month” represents the latest in the Tim Wilhelm/Tom Adams series.
Repeat after me, “Dicosmoecus”. Okay, I don’t have a clue how to pronounce that but I can say October caddis and the October caddis is one of the few big hatches you’ll find here in the east. Also known as the fall caddis or the giant orange sedge these insects emerge about the same time the mountain foliage turns bright orange and red. Caddis flies are a year-round staple in the diet of a trout and many of a day on the stream has been saved by a small elk hair caddis but in the fall fish tune into the October caddis. October caddis hatch in late afternoon and early evening, and despite its twoweek life period the bugs are seldom seen in early mornings or mid-day. Yet when the sun begins to fall, fly fishermen should break out the big flies in bright oranges to key in on the hatch. Other patterns that can be used to match the October caddis include a large Sparkle Pupae in size 10 and 12, fished in the early afternoon and large orange Stimulators in the evening.
Fly of the Month 09.11 October Caddis
Hook: Dry fly, Tiemco 100 or Tiemco 200R, Size: 8, 10, 12, 14
Thread: Uni 8/0 Rusty Brown
Body: Orange caddis dubbing, overwrap with thin, translucent latex
Legs: Light Brown Rooster Hackle
Wings: Coastal Deer Hair
Directions :
1) Start thread four turns back of the eye and advance to the hook bend above the barb to build a base. Select the latex ( approx 3mm width) and cut at a forty five degree angle. This will allow a taper when starting the first wraps. Tie in about two wraps toward the eye and push the latex out of the way. Dub the thread and wrap tightly building a cigar shape taper toward the hook eye. Stop about a little more than a third the length of the shaft back from the eye. Let the bobbin hang.
2) Grab the latex firmly and begin tight and overlapped wraps toward the eye. Each wrap should cover the previous by half. Secure with several wraps at the end of the dubbing and let the bobbin hang.
3) Select a portion of deer hair, trim and clean the underfur. Stack. Tie in softly to adjust the length, which should be the length of the hook. Once you are okay with the length tie in firmly and taper the thread wraps toward the eye. Do not overbuild the wraps.
4) Dub the thread lightly but leave room to tie in the hackle with the thread.
5) Select the hackle and trim a quarter inch to tie in.
6) Tie in the hackle and advance the dubbing about three wraps. Leave enough room for the head.
7) Wrap the hackle three turns toward the eye with the shiny side toward the eye.
8) Tie in the hackle, trim, whip finish and apply head cement.
- Tom Adams, Tim Wilhelm
This “fly of the month” represents the latest in the Tim Wilhelm/Tom Adams series.
Repeat after me, “Dicosmoecus”. Okay, I don’t have a clue how to pronounce that but I can say October caddis and the October caddis is one of the few big hatches you’ll find here in the east. Also known as the fall caddis or the giant orange sedge these insects emerge about the same time the mountain foliage turns bright orange and red. Caddis flies are a year-round staple in the diet of a trout and many of a day on the stream has been saved by a small elk hair caddis but in the fall fish tune into the October caddis. October caddis hatch in late afternoon and early evening, and despite its twoweek life period the bugs are seldom seen in early mornings or mid-day. Yet when the sun begins to fall, fly fishermen should break out the big flies in bright oranges to key in on the hatch. Other patterns that can be used to match the October caddis include a large Sparkle Pupae in size 10 and 12, fished in the early afternoon and large orange Stimulators in the evening.
Fly of the Month 09.11 October Caddis
Hook: Dry fly, Tiemco 100 or Tiemco 200R, Size: 8, 10, 12, 14
Thread: Uni 8/0 Rusty Brown
Body: Orange caddis dubbing, overwrap with thin, translucent latex
Legs: Light Brown Rooster Hackle
Wings: Coastal Deer Hair
Directions :
1) Start thread four turns back of the eye and advance to the hook bend above the barb to build a base. Select the latex ( approx 3mm width) and cut at a forty five degree angle. This will allow a taper when starting the first wraps. Tie in about two wraps toward the eye and push the latex out of the way. Dub the thread and wrap tightly building a cigar shape taper toward the hook eye. Stop about a little more than a third the length of the shaft back from the eye. Let the bobbin hang.
2) Grab the latex firmly and begin tight and overlapped wraps toward the eye. Each wrap should cover the previous by half. Secure with several wraps at the end of the dubbing and let the bobbin hang.
3) Select a portion of deer hair, trim and clean the underfur. Stack. Tie in softly to adjust the length, which should be the length of the hook. Once you are okay with the length tie in firmly and taper the thread wraps toward the eye. Do not overbuild the wraps.
4) Dub the thread lightly but leave room to tie in the hackle with the thread.
5) Select the hackle and trim a quarter inch to tie in.
6) Tie in the hackle and advance the dubbing about three wraps. Leave enough room for the head.
7) Wrap the hackle three turns toward the eye with the shiny side toward the eye.
8) Tie in the hackle, trim, whip finish and apply head cement.
- Tom Adams, Tim Wilhelm