 FLY
OF THE MONTH
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Caplis
By Tom Deschaine
Caddis flies are second only to mayflies as a source of food for trout. Hatches occur from the rivers of Maine to California. They are often present in very large numbers in the evenings, although hatches after dark and in the mornings are also common. They’re popular with fishermen because of the diverse number of hatches that are found throughout the season. The patterns can be fished wet or dry. They can be twitched, skated, dragged or fished dead drift. Every fisherman I know carries a variety of caddis patterns with him in an assortment of colors and styles at all times. I developed this caddis pattern as a generalized attractor to help alleviate the number of patterns which I have to carry.
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Materials List: |
Hook: |
Mustad #94840 or #R30-94833 |
Thread: |
Black, 6/0 |
Tail: |
Red Hackle Fibers |
Body: |
Peacock Herl |
Wing: |
Bleached Elk Hair |
Hackle: |
Furnace |
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Tying Instructions:
Step
1:
Hook selection is very important, after all it’s the only thing between you and the fish. For this fly I’ve selected a Mustad #94833 light wire hook. Peacock herl is not noted for its floatability and for this pattern I want the extra buoyancy that a light wire hook can provide.
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Step
2:
Tie in a good bed of threading. This is important because it prevents materials from slipping on the shank of the hook when you’re tying them on. |
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Step
3:
Tie in the red hackle fibers. The tail should be tied short, not to exceed one hook gap in length. Return the thread to the rear of the hook.
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Step
4:
Now select a peacock herl and tie it in securely at the base of the tail. Run your thread forward and then begin to wrap the herl. Depending on the length of the herl and the size of the hook you’re tying with, you may require more then one herl. |
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Step
5:
Tie off the peacock herl. Trim if necessary.
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Step
6:
Select a chump of bleached elk hair. The amount you choose will be determined by the hook size and how sparse or heavy you like your wings to be tied in. For this pattern I prefer to tie my wings a little heavy. |
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Step
7:
Now take this opportunity to brush or comb out any under hairs or extraneous materials from the elk hair. It makes for a much cleaner looking fly.
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Step
8:
Place you hair in a stacker to align your elk hair tips. At this point I use tweezers to remove any unwanted hairs. |
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Step
9:
Tie in your elk hair wings pulling firmly on the thread to get the elk hair to flare.
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Step
10:
Gathering the flared hairs in your finger tips, pull them back out of the way so you can tie in the thread head. |
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Step
11:
Taking scissors in hand trim the hairs caddis style. Take the time now to trim or pluck out any hairs necessary to give the fly it’s final shape.
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Step
12:
Tie in the furnace hackle. |
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Step
13:
Wrap the hackle in the normal manner. Whip finish the head. Give your fly any final trim that you feel is necessary. |
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Step
14:
Add head cement. |
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This is truly an excellent pattern with multiple uses. It’s very productive with all species of trout, especially brook trout. I’ve also discovered that in the larger sizes it works well for bass and in the smaller sizes it works for pan fish too. It can be fished on lakes, rivers and streams; fast water or still waters. It gets it's name from a old fishing buddy of mine, by the name of Tom Caplis who first introduced me to fly fishing. |
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I’m a retired high school science teacher, living in Westland, Michigan. I’ve been a hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman my entire life. But, it wasn’t until 1984, that a friend of mine introduced me to the sport of fly fishing. I got the ‘bug’ real bad and within a year or two I had added fly tying and rod building to my list of sportsman’s skills.
Over the years, my flies and tying tips have been featured in such magazines as American Angler, Fly Tyer, and Fly Fish America. I fish with, and tie only dry flies, and I have a special interest in old flies of Michigan origin. |
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Although I have fished most of the great rivers in this country, my all time favorite is still, my home river, the Au Sable, here in Michigan.
My retirement is now providing me with the time I need to write a little and share with you some of the tips, tricks, patterns and experiences I’ve had over the years.
See you on the water…..
Tom Deschaine |
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