Paul's October 2011 Fly of the Month

CDC Caddis Emerger

Hook:  Daiichi 1120, or TMC 2457, or TMC 2487 #12 to #18 Curved emerger hook.  (I prefer the TMC 2487)
Tying thread: Black, orange, brown, olive, or yellow to match natural.

Tail/trailing shuck:  Tan, yellow or amber z-lon.

Rib:  Copper Wire.

Abdomen: Antron dubbing. Color to match the natural. (Brown, tan, cream, green)

Under Wing:  Dun or amber z-lon.

Over Wing:  Dun or amber CDC.
Antennae: (Optional) Two lemon wood duck fibers.

Thorax:  Peacock hurl.

I love fishing emerger patterns on “curved emerger” hooks.   The fly is visible on the surface and the rear of the fly extends down into the surface film.  The antron dubbing and reflective trilobal fibers make it very translucent.  The z-lon/CDC wing mimics insect movement.  How can trout resist it?  

Begin by wrapping your thread from the hook eye deep into the bend of the hook.  Tie in your z-lon shuck.  Trim it to the length of the hook gap.  Next tie in your copper wire rib.  Dub your antron abdomen approximately ¾ the length of the hook shank.  Make sure you leave enough room to tie in your wing and thorax. Rib it with copper wire.  Tie in your under/over wing.  It should be ½ the length of the hook with the CDC tips at the “edge” of the wing.  Tie in two lemon wood duck fibers for the antennae.  They should sweep back and be slightly longer than the wing.  Tie in a strand or two of Peacock hurl.  Make two or three wraps for the thorax.  Tie off and whip finish fly.  Sometimes I fish this fly by itself, letting it drift and skidder along in the surface film.  Other times I fish it as a trailing fly in tandem with a caddis adult. 

This fly can also be viewed at the Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association website at http://www.hffa.net/ .  If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a pattern of

The month I can be reached at 203 305-3854 or e-mail me at pdinice@frontier.com .