Paul's December 2016 Fly of the Month

Marts CdL Hen Caddis Emerger

Hook:  Diiachi 1180 Size#16

Tying thread:   Dark Grey or Brown 8/0 Uni Thread.

Body:  Tan Superfine Dubbing.

Underwing:  Cul de Leon rooster barbs, dark pardo (optional).

Flatwing:  Cul de Leon hen neck hackle, speckled brown.

Hackle 1:  CDC natural Grey.

Hackle 2:  Cul de Leon hen neck hackle, speckled brown.

The past few years I have “re-discovered” fishing wet flies.  I started out fishing them a lot because they were easy to tie.  Then I kind of got away from them during my fly fishing journey.  Glad I’m back to using them.  Although this particular fly is characterized as an emerger, I look at it more as a wet fly fished in the surface film.  This fly was invented by a gentleman named Martin Westbeek.  It’s the hackle materials that make this fly “come to life”.  I’ve had some pretty successful days with it. 

I wouldn’t call this an easy tie, but it’s well worth the effort.  To begin tying this fly start your thread behind hook eye and wrap down to the point on the hook shank even with barb of the hook.   Next, dub a thin tapered body, leaving the last 1/3^rd of the hook shank (behind the eye) without any dubbing.   This will be the base for your wing and hackle materials.  If you like, tie in a few rooster CdL feather fibers as your underwing.  You are now going to prepare your flatwing.  Take a hen neck hackle and stroke enough fibers in the opposite direction to form a wing.  Hold the fibers in place and lash it down on the  hook shank.  The ‘flatwing’ should extend beyond the hook shank approximately 1/3^rd the hook shank.  Cut off the tip of the feather and the ‘butt’ end after the tie down point.  Form an even base behind the hook eye for your hackles.  Next, tie in your CDC feather by the tip.   Stroke the fibers back and then make a few closely spaced wraps.  The barbs should point to the bend of the hook.  Tie it off and trim the ‘butt’ end of the CDC hackle.  Next, prepare a Coq de Leon hen feather in the same manner.  Tie it in by the butt end.  Make two wraps with the feather and tie it off.  Trim off the ‘butt’ end and whip finish the fly.  You may apply a drop of head cement if you  wish. 

Below is an instructional video on how to tie this fly:

If you have any questions about this fly or would like to submit a Fly of the Month, I can be reached at 203 305-3850 or e-mail me at pdinice@frontier.com . 



Paul's November 2016 Fly of the Month

Birds Nest

Hook:  Diiachi 1710 in sizes #12 to 16 (or hook of choice).

Thread:  Tan 6/0 or 8/0.

Weight (optional):  5-6 lead wraps starting 1/3 hook shank length from eye.

Tail:  Mallard or wood duck fibers, bronze in color (or to match natural).

Rib:  Copper wire.

Abdomen:  Grey/tan Australian possum dubbing or buggy nymph dubbing of  choice.

Hackle:  Mallard or wood duck fibers

Thorax:  Same as the Abdomen but dubbed buggy with a dubbing loop

You want to catch fish?  USE THIS FLY!  Many have said that this fly is not really a nymph, nor is it a winged wet fly.  It's more of a hybrid that really catches fish.  I've fished it as a nymph, but have had far more productive days fishing it as a wet fly beneath the surface film.  The birds nest is a fly pattern created in 1959 by a gentleman by the name of Cal Bird.  He fished it on the Truckee River in California.  There are only a few materials to this pattern and it's a very easy tie.  There are other versions of this fly, like the Depth Charge Bird's Nest, but it's more like a traditional bead head nymph.  This hybrid version is what I love to fish.

When tying this fly you have the option of tying it with or without lead weight.  For larger sizes I usually put a few wraps of lead at the center of the hook shank.  Smaller sizes I tie without the lead.  By the way it's a great pattern to tie in smaller sizes.  What's great about this fly is you can adapt the size and colors to mimic any bug hatch.  If you use lead, cover it with thread wraps, if not, begin your thread approximately 2/3rds up the hook shank.  Tie in your mallard or wood duck fibers.  Tie in your copper wire rib.  Next, dub a slightly tapered body from the tail to where you initially started your thread (2/3reds up the hook shank).  Rib the abdomen with your copper wire.  Tie the wire down and clip off the tag end.  Next affix your wood duck or mallard fibers as "hackle" for this fly.  They should extend to the bend of the hook.  When mounting them square off the tips.  One method to do this is o strip them from the feather and align them.  Next, mount them on the hook.  You want to use some loose wraps at first.  Rotate the fibers around the hook shank as you tighten up your thread.  Next you're going to dub your thorax.  You want it to look very buggy.  To accomplish this I use a dubbing loop for larger flies.  For smaller flies I create a loop by splitting my tying thread off the hook shank.  I place the dubbing material in the loop, spin it and dub the thorax.  Create a small thread head.  Tie it off and apply some head cememt. 

Hans Weilenmannhas has a great instructional video on how to tie this pattern below:

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