E/C Caddis
During a recent conversation with Bill Merg from Merco Products (Rite Bobbin), Sunnyvale, CA he raved about this great caddis pattern that Ralph Cutter from the California School of Fly Fishing had developed. He explained the pattern imitated a caddis trapped in its pupal shuck as it attempted to emerge (E/C means emergent/cripple). Bill further explained Ralph intended the tan abdomen represented the part of the caddis body stuck in the shuck while the thorax was the emerging portion of the adult. We've found it to be a great pattern anywhere caddis flies live and Idaho waters certainly fit that bill. It's easy to tie and the footprint on the water closely imitates the natural insect. Don't limit yourself to the color we show here, it is great selection in a wide range of colors and sizes.
E/C Caddis
Tied by: Bill Merg, Sunnyvale, CAHook: Size 10 to 20, Mustad R50, 94840, 80000BR, Daiichi 1100, 1180, Eagle Claw LO59, LO60
Thread: Olive, Gudebrod BCS#30, Uni-Thread Olive
Tail: Ginger Antron
Abdomen: Ginger dubbingThorax: Green dubbing
Wing: Deer or elk hair
Hackle: Ewing or Whiting dun or grizzly
Head: Trimmed wing material
Tying Instruction
1. Place the hook in the vise and apply a thread base that covers the complete hook shank. Leave the bobbin hanging just behind the hook eye.
2. Select a strand of Antron for the tail and tie it to the shank starting behind the eye and wrap to the end. Trim the tail so it's length equals the hook shank.
3. Apply ginger dubbing to the thread and wrap it over the back two-thirds of the hook shank. Leave the thread hanging at the point one-third back from the hook eye.
4. Pluck a hackle feather and strip the fuzz from the stem. Attach the feather to the hook with the tip pointing forward. Bind the bare stem to the front one-third of the hook. Attaching the feather in this way positions it to wrap as a parachute hackle later in the tying process.
5. Place green dubbing on the thread and wrap it over the front one-third of the hook to cover the hackle stem and also form the contrasting thorax. Leave the bobbin directly behind the hook eye.
6. Clean and stack a clump of deer or elk hair. Bind it to the hook with the tips pointing back, Trude style. We will eventually trim the waste ends in an elk hair caddis style head but for now leave it untrimmed. Place several turns of thread around the wing and the untrimmed head, parallel with and above the hook shank, to keep the hair from slipping around the hook and to prepare a base for the parachute style hackle in the next step.
7. Wrap several turns hackle so it goes UNDER the wing but ABOVE the hook shank parachute style, then tie the feather off at the hook eye, whip finish, and trim the thread. Now trim the waste ends of the wing into an elk hair caddis style of head. Apply a coating of head cement.
Other Resources:
Books:
Fly Pattern Encyclopedia: Federation of Fly
Fishers
by Al Beatty & Gretchen Beatty, Frank Amato Pubns; (September 2000)
Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple by Skip Morris, et al (Spiral-bound - September 1992)
Trout Flies: The Tier's Reference by Dave Hughes; Hardcover
Complete Book of Western Hatches: An Angler's Entomology and Fly Pattern Field Guide by Rick Hafele, Dave Hughes (Paperback - May 1981)
Jack Dennis Western Trout Fly Tying Manual by Jack Dennis
Montana, Idaho, Wyoming Top 45 Fishing Waters
Other Articles:
"From the Fly Box" - Judson Stone
by Al & Gretchen Beatty
"From the Fly Box" - March Brown Nymph by Al & Gretchen Beatty
"From the Fly Box" - Quigley's Hackle Stacker Dun by Al & Gretchen Beatty
"From the Fly Box" - Maribou Muddler Jigs by Phil Blomquist
Is It Really That Difficult to Learn to Fly Fish? by Pudge Kleinkopf
When You Want to Release the Fish Unharmed by Sharon Watson
Ice Fishing the Gem State by Charlie Powell
Henrys Fork Fly Fishing Classic by Sharon Watson