Paul's September 2023 Fly of the Month

 BPS Spent Caddis

Hook:  Dai-Riki 300 or standard dry fly hook in Size #14 to #18.

Thread:  Black, 8/0 or 70 Denier.   

Body:  Peacock Herl.

Wings:  Tan short/fine deer hair or elk hair, cleaned and stacked.

This fly was designed by a Fly Fisher named Dennis Kamatsu.  It is one of my top producing dry flies on the Housatonic.  When I first tied and fished the BPS, I didn’t think it would ‘out fish’ a traditional Elk Hair Caddis, but at times it’s pure magic.  There are two negative issues with this fly.  First, it rides low and flat in the water column, making it difficult to track and see the take.  Secondly, although it's comprised of only two materials, it’s not an easy tie.  It takes a little practice to separate and figure 8 the wings.      

 

To tie this fly, secure the hook in your vice.  Start your thread a ¼ of the way down the hook shank.  Make 5-6 securing wraps and cut off the tag end.  Take 1-3 strands of Peacock Herl (depending on the size of the fly) and tie them onto the top of the hook shank.  Wrap your thread rearward to the start of the bend.  Next, make touching wraps forward with your Peacock Herl behind your tying thread.  Stop making wraps at the ¼ mark of your thread, tie it off with 2-3 wraps of your thread and cut off the tag end.   

 

Next, prepare your Elk or Deer Hair wing.  Cut a ‘wing size’ clump from the hide, pull out the under fur, and stack it in a Hair Stacker.  Now, measure it on top of your hook shank so that it extends almost to the bend of the hook.  Snip the butt ends of your hair off where it aligns with the hook eye.  Move the clump a little rear work so that it now aligns with the rear of the eye.  This whole process is similar to preparing a wing for an Elk Hair Caddis.  Next, make securing wraps to bind down your Wings.  There are a number of ways to do this.  One is to make a few securing wraps and then additional wraps letting your wing rotate 1 revolution around the hook shank.  Whatever technique you use, make sure your wing(s) is bound down securely.  You are now going to separate the wing(s) into two equal halves.  Use figure 8 wraps to splay your wings.  Once the wings are splayed to your liking, use your whip finish tool to make 4-5 wraps.  Cut off your thread.  Add a drop of head cement or Hard as Nails to your thread wraps.  You’re done.

Tightlinevideo has a great instructional video on how to tie this fly below:

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of The Month I can be reached at pdinice@frontier.com .