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NYMPHS & WETS

CADDIS GRUBS

There are over 470 species of Caddisflies in Australia and they all lay their copious numbers of eggs in water.  Given the numbers of caddis pupa (or nymphs) that hatch it's not surprising that Caddisfly pupa form arguably the largest part of a trouts diet. Most caddis grubs make a retreat of silk with sand or detritus matter stuck to the outside. Similar in form this fly represents a caddis grub that has been dislodged from it retreat. Colours include cream, lime, fawn, and light browns and olives through to dark browns and olives.

In Lakes such as Jindabyne and Eucumbene the Sand Caddis constructs a fixed retreat made of silk with sand attached to the outside. The sand caddis grubs are a particular target of hungry trout when they are dislodged during choppy conditions or when they surrender retreat in order to make a new one as they go through one of their 15 or so instars. At times like this fish that have been sighted cruising the margins are a sucker for a well presented Sand Caddis fly. The best method is to ambush sighted fish – the action can be immediate so they must really like the little guys. My preferred colours are sand coloured, brown and lime.
MATERIALS:
Hook  - Curved Caddis or Curved Nymph hook size 8  to 12
Thread  - Olive
Weight - 6 wraps of .010 lead wire
Ribbing - Fine copper wire
Body  - Hi Vis dubbing
Head  - Peacock herl

A)

  1. Wind the thread from the 95% position to the start of the bend of the hook.
  2. Wind 10 wraps of .010 lead on the front half of the hook.
    3.

  1. Return the thread back along the body to the 95% position.
    2.



B)
  1. Starting at the 95% position and extending to half way round the bend of the hook tie in a  length of copper wire along the top of the hook shank.
    2.




C)
  1. Select a small amount of dubbing and using the single strand dubbing technique dub a uniform body 90% of the way along the hook shank.
    2.




D)
  1. Wind the copper wire forward along the body using the copper wire as a rib that cuts the body into 6 or 7 segments.
  2. Take the copper wire forward one further turn..
  3. Break off the copper wire whilst holding the hook.
  4. Select a couple of peacock herl with short flue and tie them in where the copper wire finishes.
    5.

 


E)

  1. Form the herl and thread into herl rope and take one of two wraps of rope between the end of the body and the eye of the hook.
    2.

  1. Trim the excess herl off close to the hook shank just behind the eye of the hook.
  2. Whip finish, trim and varnish the thread directly behind the eye of the hook.

    4.



Copyright © 2005 Stephen Chatterton / Fish on Fly P/L - All rights reserved.
Last modified:26-Jun-2008.

 
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