Red Headed Caddis
Fly of The Month 06.19
Red Head Caddis
We find it interesting that fly patterns often have parallel originations and very different stories. Since fly patterns were not copyrighted or trademarked until recent times, only in the cases of a patent has anyone in the past challenged who rightfully can claim ownership of a given fly pattern.
Historically, fly patterns may be identical or only slightly different with very different names. Likewise, identical names may mean very little and may be different, slightly different or independently originated fly patterns.
One series of fly patterns that was originated by Benny Joe Craig from western North Carolina is the Redhead. His long creative list of flies is a lengthy story to be told at another time. However, there is also a fly pattern from Michigan so named the Redhead fly. In this case there is absolutely no connection between Craig’s Redhead series of flies and this Redhead fly found in Smedley’s Fly Patterns and Their Origins published in 1944.
Redhead Fly
This squirrel tail fly was first tied by Paul Young of Detroit, Michigan, at the insistence of Jack Redhead, native of, and raised on, the Au Sable River in Michigan, at the mouth of the North Branch; a guide, and a good one. It differs from most squirrel tails in that the hair flares out on each side of the long shank hook, which is lightly dressed in a gold or silver spiral.
Redhead Series by Benny Joe Craig
Craig was a seat of the pants fly tyer who discovered that almost any fly pattern tied with red thread and ending up with a pronounced redhead was highly productive for catching trout in the Southern Appalachians. He used both red thread and fire orange thread depending on the fly pattern. His redhead series includes: Clay County Redhead Caddis, Black Redhead Caddis, Orange Redhead Caddis, Chartreuse Redhead Caddis, Yellow Redhead Caddis, Peacock Redhead Caddis, Golden Redhead, Royal Redhead and Redhead Jassid.
Craig also had two fly patterns that used copper thread, the Dark Copperhead and the Light Copperhead. These fly patterns are totally unrelated to the highly productive Copperhead saltwater fly which imitates a redfish fry.
Redhead
Benny Joe Craig (BJC) Redhead Series:
Redhead Caddis
Black Redhead Caddis
Orange Redhead Caddis
Chartreuse Redhead Caddis
Yellow Redhead Caddis
Peacock Redhead Caddis
Clay County Redhead Caddis
Golden Redhead
Royal Redhead
Fly of the Month 06.19
…. photo, steps
Tom Adams and Alen Baker
References:
Smedley, Harold Hinsdill. Fly Patterns and Their Origins, 1944
Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachian, Benny Joe Craig
Redhead Caddis
Hook Dry
Size 14, 16
Thread Red
Tail None
Body Pale green dubbing
Hackle Brown
Wing Light elk hair
Created by Bennie Joe Craig
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC
Black Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Black dubbing)
Orange Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Orange dubbing)
Chartreuse Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Chartreuse dubbing)
Yellow Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Yellow dubbing)
Peacock Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Peacock herl)
Clay County Redhead Caddis
Hook Dry
Size 14, 16
Thread Red
Tail Brown, short
Body Dark brown dubbing
Hackle Dyed-coachman brown grizzly, palmered over body
Wing Squirrel tail, down-wing
Created by Bennie Joe Craig
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC
Golden Redhead
Hook Dry
Size 12, 14, 16
Thread Fire orange
Wing Black & White, over hackle, portions from grey squirrel tail
Tail (Tag) Fire orange thread
Body: Harvest gold yarn
Hackle: Dyed-red grizzly
Created by Bennie Joe Craig
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC
Royal Redhead
Hook Dry
Size 12, 14, 16
Thread Fire orange
Wing Black & White, over hackle, portions from grey squirrel tail
Tail (Tag) Fire orange thread
Body Wine-colored yarn
Hackle Dyed-red grizzly
Created by Bennie Joe Craig
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC
Red Head Caddis
We find it interesting that fly patterns often have parallel originations and very different stories. Since fly patterns were not copyrighted or trademarked until recent times, only in the cases of a patent has anyone in the past challenged who rightfully can claim ownership of a given fly pattern.
Historically, fly patterns may be identical or only slightly different with very different names. Likewise, identical names may mean very little and may be different, slightly different or independently originated fly patterns.
One series of fly patterns that was originated by Benny Joe Craig from western North Carolina is the Redhead. His long creative list of flies is a lengthy story to be told at another time. However, there is also a fly pattern from Michigan so named the Redhead fly. In this case there is absolutely no connection between Craig’s Redhead series of flies and this Redhead fly found in Smedley’s Fly Patterns and Their Origins published in 1944.
Redhead Fly
This squirrel tail fly was first tied by Paul Young of Detroit, Michigan, at the insistence of Jack Redhead, native of, and raised on, the Au Sable River in Michigan, at the mouth of the North Branch; a guide, and a good one. It differs from most squirrel tails in that the hair flares out on each side of the long shank hook, which is lightly dressed in a gold or silver spiral.
Redhead Series by Benny Joe Craig
Craig was a seat of the pants fly tyer who discovered that almost any fly pattern tied with red thread and ending up with a pronounced redhead was highly productive for catching trout in the Southern Appalachians. He used both red thread and fire orange thread depending on the fly pattern. His redhead series includes: Clay County Redhead Caddis, Black Redhead Caddis, Orange Redhead Caddis, Chartreuse Redhead Caddis, Yellow Redhead Caddis, Peacock Redhead Caddis, Golden Redhead, Royal Redhead and Redhead Jassid.
Craig also had two fly patterns that used copper thread, the Dark Copperhead and the Light Copperhead. These fly patterns are totally unrelated to the highly productive Copperhead saltwater fly which imitates a redfish fry.
Redhead
Benny Joe Craig (BJC) Redhead Series:
Redhead Caddis
Black Redhead Caddis
Orange Redhead Caddis
Chartreuse Redhead Caddis
Yellow Redhead Caddis
Peacock Redhead Caddis
Clay County Redhead Caddis
Golden Redhead
Royal Redhead
Fly of the Month 06.19
…. photo, steps
Tom Adams and Alen Baker
References:
Smedley, Harold Hinsdill. Fly Patterns and Their Origins, 1944
Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachian, Benny Joe Craig
Redhead Caddis
Hook Dry
Size 14, 16
Thread Red
Tail None
Body Pale green dubbing
Hackle Brown
Wing Light elk hair
Created by Bennie Joe Craig
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC
Black Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Black dubbing)
Orange Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Orange dubbing)
Chartreuse Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Chartreuse dubbing)
Yellow Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Yellow dubbing)
Peacock Redhead Caddis
(same as Redhead Caddis except Body is Peacock herl)
Clay County Redhead Caddis
Hook Dry
Size 14, 16
Thread Red
Tail Brown, short
Body Dark brown dubbing
Hackle Dyed-coachman brown grizzly, palmered over body
Wing Squirrel tail, down-wing
Created by Bennie Joe Craig
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC
Golden Redhead
Hook Dry
Size 12, 14, 16
Thread Fire orange
Wing Black & White, over hackle, portions from grey squirrel tail
Tail (Tag) Fire orange thread
Body: Harvest gold yarn
Hackle: Dyed-red grizzly
Created by Bennie Joe Craig
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC
Royal Redhead
Hook Dry
Size 12, 14, 16
Thread Fire orange
Wing Black & White, over hackle, portions from grey squirrel tail
Tail (Tag) Fire orange thread
Body Wine-colored yarn
Hackle Dyed-red grizzly
Created by Bennie Joe Craig
Reference: Southern Appalachian, BJC