Paul's April 2024 Bonus Fly of the Month

 Holy Grail Caddis Emerger

Hook:  Curved Emerger or Nymph Hook Size #12 - #16.

Thread:  Red Thread.

Bead:  3/32” 2.4 mm Gold Bead.

Rib:  Opal or Pearlescent tinsel or Flash-a-bou. 

Body:  Hare’s Mask Dubbing.

Wingcase:  Pheasant Tail Fibers.

Body:  Gold tinsel Chenille, Large.

Hackle:  Partridge.

This is a great emerger pattern for deeper water.  To tie this fly begin by mashing down the hook barb, place the bead on the hok, and it in your vice.  Start your thread at the hook point. Once secured, cut off the butt end.  Next, secure your Pearl Tinsel/Flash-a-bou onto the hook shank.  You are now going to bring your Tinsel over the mounted Gold Bead, under the hook shank, and back to your tie in point.  That should lock the bead in place.  When you do this make sure you located the bead an ‘eye length’ from the hook eye.  This is critical.  With the bead locked in place, wrap your thread down the hook shank, over the Tinsel.  Your wraps should extend well down the hook shank.  

Next, create a slim dubbing noodle with your Hare’s Mask Dubbing.  With touching wraps, create a tapered body up the hook shank.  The body should end before the bead, leaving enough space to tie in your Wingcase.  Next, with open spiral wraps, rib your body with Tinsel.  Tie it off and cut off the butt end. Now prepare your Wingcase by stripping off 8-10 fibers of Pheasant Tail.  After aligning the tips, trim them off.  Tie them in behind the bead with the fibers extending back towards the rear.  Now dub another noodle with Hare’s Dubbing to cover the body space behind the bead.  Bring your thread over the bead and make some securing wraps.  Next, bring your Pheasant Tail Fibers over the Bead and secure them to create your Wingcase.  After the fibers are anchored, clip off the butt ends.  Now, select a Partridge feather to serve as your hackle.  Strip off all the lower webby fibers.  Pinch the tip of the feather and stroke back all the other fibers on the feather.  Trim off the tip of the feather leaving part of the stem exposed.  Tie the feather in by the exposed stem.  With hackle pliers, take 2 wraps around the hook shank, stroking the feather fibers back as you do so.  Tie the feather off, trim off the excess stem.  Create a small head on the fly, whip finish, and apply head cement. 

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 .