	THE GREEN MACHINE DIVING CADDIS Courtesy of Max AKA FlashBackMax THE GREEN MACHINE DIVING CADDIS If you think back to the days you spent on the water you can no doubt remember caddis flies. They are one of the most prevalent and abundant aquatic insects in many ecosystems. Fish target them mercilessly. And it is because of that behavior that this fly seems to work so well. A Little Caddis Biology When Caddis reproduce and lay their eggs they do it several different ways. Some simply crawl off the bank into the water. Some dop and dab the surface as they insert their abdomens into the water to try and shake the eggs loose. Still some actually break through the surface film and dive down to deposit their eggs. The third example is the behavior we will be imitating here. How to Fish It sounds strange to explain how it’s fished before you see how it’s made, however I think you’ll get a better idea of how the fly is suppose to work if you think about the angling dynamics first. I usually stand on the bank or just slightly in the water facing directly across or slightly down. Make a cast so that the fly lands a little upstream and throw in a good mend. Wait a few seconds for the fly to sink. When the line has passed you and the mend is almost played out, give the rod several short quick pops and take up the slack. This will take the fly and cause it to dart and dance like it’s attempting to swim. Fish see the behavior and maul flies quite viciously. This type of fishing is especially exciting if you see the fish first. The anticipation is murder cause almost 99% of the time you know the fish is going to at least look at the fly . It’s almost like mini streamer fishing. Another effective technique is the old wet fly swing. Just let it wave and dance in the current at the end of the drift. That has accounted for a number of good fish for me. On to the tying…. Materials Hook: Daichii 1550 #12 Thread: olive 6/0 Bead: green or olive seed bead(imitates the egg sac the caddis is there to spread) Dubbing: hares ear Wing: pheasant feather Softhackle: pheasant feather Step 1 - Insert the hook into the vice and coat the shank with thread Step 2 - Estimate where you want the bead to be and wrap the thread back to that point. Take the hook out of the vice and slip on the bead. Take a little bit of super glue or zap-a-gap and touch the spot where you want the bead to stay. Then move the bead onto the glue and let it dry. Note Use as little as little an amount of glue as possible. If you get too much, it just makes a big mess. Trust me, I know…….. My thumb and index finger have gotten to know each other very well in the past when I’ve been “using” super glue. Step 3 - This step is to dub the body, however it’s not like normal twisting type dubbing. Get out your dubbing wax and apply a generous amount to the thread. Now take a little bunch of dubbing and touch it to the thread. Some of the fibers will stick. Keep doing this until you feel it is thick enough. You do not want it too shaggy. When you have what you feel is enough, take you thumb and index finger and gently squeeze the rope of dubbing you made. All this does is keep them from falling off when you wrap. When they’re wrapped on they will bind under each other and become fixed. Step 4 - Prepare Dubbing Step 5 - Now go ahead and wrap the dubbing forward. Stop about two thirds of the way up the hook. This method of dubbing produces and extremely rough and buddy looking body. Step 6 - Choose a grouse or other suitable webby type feather that matches the wings of a species of caddis from the waters you fish. There are a number of species in my home river that have light amber colored wings. So that is the color I chose. Strip a few of the fibers off and role them in your fingers so they’re all about the same length etc. Measure the wing and tie it in. You want it to extend just slightly beyond the bend of the hook. Step 7 - Trim off the leftover tag of the feather and wrap the butts under Step 8 - Dub a small amount to make up any space if you need to, I did here. Step 9 - Select a darker soft hackle feather and tie it in. Step 10 - Get one good wrap of the soft hackle and tie it off. Step 11 - Touch dub on another bunch of hares ear for the head Step 12 - Wrap the head up somewhat covering the soft hackle so it lays back slightly but not too much. Step 13 - Tie off the fly and give it a little shot of head cement, and it’s done. Check out the top and bottom views! TOP VIEW BOTTOM VIEW Final thoughts…. I have never fished this fly for grayling. However I’d bet my life that it would absolutely slay them. I’m guessing it would do a fair job on AK rainbows also. Hmmm, maybe I should plan a tip to find out…….. Courtesy of Max AKA FlashBackMax

THE GREEN MACHINE DIVING CADDIS

Courtesy of Max

AKA

FlashBackMax

THE GREEN MACHINE DIVING CADDIS

If you think back to the days you spent on the water you can no doubt remember caddis flies. They are one of the most prevalent and abundant aquatic insects in many ecosystems. Fish target them mercilessly. And it is because of that behavior that this fly seems to work so well.

A Little Caddis Biology

When Caddis reproduce and lay their eggs they do it several different ways. Some simply crawl off the bank into the water. Some dop and dab the surface as they insert their abdomens into the water to try and shake the eggs loose. Still some actually break through the surface film and dive down to deposit their eggs. The third example is the behavior we will be imitating here.

How to Fish

It sounds strange to explain how it’s fished before you see how it’s made, however I think you’ll get a better idea of how the fly is suppose to work if you think about the angling dynamics first. I usually stand on the bank or just slightly in the water facing directly across or slightly down. Make a cast so that the fly lands a little upstream and throw in a good mend. Wait a few seconds for the fly to sink. When the line has passed you and the mend is almost played out, give the rod several short quick pops and take up the slack. This will take the fly and cause it to dart and dance like it’s attempting to swim. Fish see the behavior and maul flies quite viciously. This type of fishing is especially exciting if you see the fish first. The anticipation is murder cause almost 99% of the time you know the fish is going to at least look at the fly . It’s almost like mini streamer fishing. Another effective technique is the old wet fly swing. Just let it wave and dance in the current at the end of the drift. That has accounted for a number of good fish for me.

On to the tying….

Materials

Hook: Daichii 1550 #12

Thread: olive 6/0

Bead: green or olive seed bead(imitates the egg sac the caddis is there to spread)

Dubbing: hares ear

Wing: pheasant feather

Softhackle: pheasant feather

Step 1 - Insert the hook into the vice and coat the shank with thread

Step 2 - Estimate where you want the bead to be and wrap the thread back to that point. Take the hook out of the vice and slip on the bead. Take a little bit of super glue or zap-a-gap and touch the spot where you want the bead to stay. Then move the bead onto the glue and let it dry. *Note* Use as little as little an amount of glue as possible. If you get too much, it just makes a big mess. Trust me, I know…….. My thumb and index finger have gotten to know each other very well in the past when I’ve been “using” super glue.

Step 3 - This step is to dub the body, however it’s not like normal twisting type dubbing. Get out your dubbing wax and apply a generous amount to the thread. Now take a little bunch of dubbing and touch it to the thread. Some of the fibers will stick. Keep doing this until you feel it is thick enough. You do not want it too shaggy. When you have what you feel is enough, take you thumb and index finger and gently squeeze the rope of dubbing you made. All this does is keep them from falling off when you wrap. When they’re wrapped on they will bind under each other and become fixed.

Step 4 - Prepare Dubbing

Step 5 - Now go ahead and wrap the dubbing forward. Stop about two thirds of the way up the hook. This method of dubbing produces and extremely rough and buddy looking body.

Step 6 - Choose a grouse or other suitable webby type feather that matches the wings of a species of caddis from the waters you fish. There are a number of species in my home river that have light amber colored wings. So that is the color I chose. Strip a few of the fibers off and role them in your fingers so they’re all about the same length etc. Measure the wing and tie it in. You want it to extend just slightly beyond the bend of the hook.

Step 7 - Trim off the leftover tag of the feather and wrap the butts under

Step 8 - Dub a small amount to make up any space if you need to, I did here.

Step 9 - Select a darker soft hackle feather and tie it in.

Step 10 - Get one good wrap of the soft hackle and tie it off.

Step 11 - Touch dub on another bunch of hares ear for the head

Step 12 - Wrap the head up somewhat covering the soft hackle so it lays back slightly but not too much.

Step 13 - Tie off the fly and give it a little shot of head cement, and it’s done. Check out the top and bottom views!

TOP VIEW

BOTTOM VIEW

Final thoughts….

I have never fished this fly for grayling. However I’d bet my life that it would absolutely slay them. I’m guessing it would do a fair job on AK rainbows also. Hmmm, maybe I should plan a tip to find out……..