Early in my fly fishing days I had little theoretical information on the life cycle of aquatic insects and how trout reacted to the stages and movements. I knew about caddis pupae and adults but didn't know about or consider the emerger stage. So I fished pupa wet flies and adult dry flies. During decent hatches in the evening on my favourite stream, I'd have little luck with either. Fortunately a fellow angler taught me about emergers, how to tie and fish with them, when to use them and I was away (almost... more later). This pattern is a beauty. For about half of the emergers I tie I add a trailing shuck made of a few wisps of poly yarn, sparkle yarn or crinkle flash. If using Antron or Z-lon, be careful to twist the stuff so the shuck is fairly cylindrical and not flaring out all over the place. If that didn't work, it was time for the 'secret weapon'. Apparently trout can and will key onto the very earliest stage of the caddis emerging. So a prominent hackle is not called for. Instead, use a 'cloak' of sparkle yarn (UV2 Sparkle yarn is awesome) tied in just ahead of the body. Let it drape back over the fly body. You can even add a bit of hare's ear dubbing for extra effect. i1.wp.com/thefeatherbender.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/img_2864.jpg?resize=720%2C480
Just got to say thank you sir! After watching tons of your videos I finally started to get into fly tying and it's extremely addictive. Really appreciate your quality of content simple, instructive and a joy to watch! Because of your video just recently started a fly fishing club at my high school.
Last night's Holy Caddis Emerger thanks to Tim Flagler and tightlinesvideo on UA-cam. now let's see if they catch fish. You are so right about not crowding the eye
Great video thank you , I'm tying some of these right now, mixing up the colors a little but following the same pattern. , keep,em coming love you're easy to follow videos
What a classic pattern...that can with a few material changes make a full box of variants...thank you very much...it's truly beautiful...and functional...
I know right. My hand was twitching trying not to reach for it. Next week I think I might give in. Looks like rain is working its way into the Adirondacks as we speak. Finally.
Great video like always! This flyer is very similar to an old pattern called A march brown spider. The only real difference is the bead and the fact that the old pattern is tied with a gold rib instead of flash. I fish the spider for about 30 years and it’s a killer. I’m looking forward to trying this method
Wanted to comment here because I've tied and fished pattern for a few years, but your trick for the bead placement made it much less grueling to tie these down smaller. And the trout today (all wild) were AAALLLLLLLLLLL about this in a size 20. Also reading another comment, I do think the thorax cover is important. I think it assists in trapping water around the bead and producing the emergent bubble.
You can slay wild browns in NJ WTS with this pattern but without the hackle. I've caught way more without the hackle than i have with it. But either way, it is an amazing pattern and during a caddis hatch, it's a killer
Is the music form the video game Witcher 3? Thought it reminded me of something... Also, thanks to you for these great videos, they've helped me a lot while trying to figure out fly tying in these past couple of years.
Thanks for the video and a great pattern. I'm tying up some flies to fish grayling in Austria, relatively fast-moving and deep water. Would adding some wire in addition to the bead be overkill? I've never fished grayling before and am wondering if you would recommend this pattern. I've also looked at your Blue Diver.
When I first saw this pattern I thought the exact same thing and tied a few without it and it just didn't look quite right. Although the wing case adds a good bit of hassle to the pattern I think it might help the fly to crossover from being just a caddis emerger and kind of an all around "mayfly nymph, caddis larva/emerger, buggy looking" type of deal. Then again, I could be over thinking the whole thing. Thanks for watching.
I understand choice of dubbing colors, but not why certain thread colors are chosen. So, why red thread in this case? Is it true that fish see colors differently than we do (i.e. red is brown) ?
I use red thread as a visual trigger, something in contrast to the rest of the pattern. Kind of a "hey look over here" deal. Once you have their attention, the rest of the fly looks natural and like something they are likely to eat. Or so it goes in theory.
Really neat “trick” with securing the bead bro - thanks a lot!!!
Early in my fly fishing days I had little theoretical information on the life cycle of aquatic insects and how trout reacted to the stages and movements. I knew about caddis pupae and adults but didn't know about or consider the emerger stage. So I fished pupa wet flies and adult dry flies. During decent hatches in the evening on my favourite stream, I'd have little luck with either.
Fortunately a fellow angler taught me about emergers, how to tie and fish with them, when to use them and I was away (almost... more later).
This pattern is a beauty. For about half of the emergers I tie I add a trailing shuck made of a few wisps of poly yarn, sparkle yarn or crinkle flash. If using Antron or Z-lon, be careful to twist the stuff so the shuck is fairly cylindrical and not flaring out all over the place.
If that didn't work, it was time for the 'secret weapon'. Apparently trout can and will key onto the very earliest stage of the caddis emerging. So a prominent hackle is not called for. Instead, use a 'cloak' of sparkle yarn (UV2 Sparkle yarn is awesome) tied in just ahead of the body. Let it drape back over the fly body. You can even add a bit of hare's ear dubbing for extra effect.
i1.wp.com/thefeatherbender.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/img_2864.jpg?resize=720%2C480
Tied this with an orange sulphur colored body and it works great. Thanks sooooo much!
Just got to say thank you sir! After watching tons of your videos I finally started to get into fly tying and it's extremely addictive. Really appreciate your quality of content simple, instructive and a joy to watch! Because of your video just recently started a fly fishing club at my high school.
nice variation of the caddis the music is super chill too u should add more like it beautiful
As they say, there are no new flies, just variations of old classics. A pretty slick variation of a soft hackle hares ear. Thanks
Great pattern and video. Just used this in fast pocket water on Truckee River and it worked great with rainbows. Thank you!
Last night's Holy Caddis Emerger thanks to Tim Flagler and tightlinesvideo on UA-cam. now let's see if they catch fish.
You are so right
about not crowding the eye
I love the music, and the way you explain the tying of the fly. Great video, thanks.
You make it look sooooo easy
Great video thank you , I'm tying some of these right now, mixing up the colors a little but following the same pattern. , keep,em coming love you're easy to follow videos
A Great Tie Tim! If this Fly is Tied in say a Rough Rabbit Grey, Peacock Herl, and another in Amber Australian Opossum every Base would be covered!
Nice tie!
What a classic pattern...that can with a few material changes make a full box of variants...thank you very much...it's truly beautiful...and functional...
boom! thanks for sharing again
Great tip on the popsicle stick. Thanks.
Nice pattern. I was waiting for the Bondic on the wing casing!!
I know right. My hand was twitching trying not to reach for it. Next week I think I might give in. Looks like rain is working its way into the Adirondacks as we speak. Finally.
When i tied up a handful of these I put Bondic on the wing-case just before the legs; 'no brain-er. Pheasant-tail is way to fragile.
Your vids are always great inspiration for me, thanks !!
great fly as always , you give one of the best presentations, and always great tricks to make you a better fly tier Thanks Mark
Beautiful ! Thanks
Great video like always! This flyer is very similar to an old pattern called A march brown spider. The only real difference is the bead and the fact that the old pattern is tied with a gold rib instead of flash. I fish the spider for about 30 years and it’s a killer. I’m looking forward to trying this method
Nice job Tim, going to tie some of these up
Very cool, thanks for this!
Thanks for sharing, great tie
Wanted to comment here because I've tied and fished pattern for a few years, but your trick for the bead placement made it much less grueling to tie these down smaller. And the trout today (all wild) were AAALLLLLLLLLLL about this in a size 20.
Also reading another comment, I do think the thorax cover is important. I think it assists in trapping water around the bead and producing the emergent bubble.
Beautiful
That is one Cool Fly!! 🤘
Great video man
You can slay wild browns in NJ WTS with this pattern but without the hackle. I've caught way more without the hackle than i have with it. But either way, it is an amazing pattern and during a caddis hatch, it's a killer
very nice, thanks for sharing!
perhaps a glass bead in crystal or amber would work well too because I assume the bead imitates the air bubble on a caddis.
Simply Sweet!
Tim, any thoughts on stronger alternatives to flashabou? Thanks.
I got the same bodkin, I bet you bought it in the 1980's and from Thomas and Thomas!
hy is possible use something other then a flash. ... you have good advice and nice videos
Is the music form the video game Witcher 3? Thought it reminded me of something... Also, thanks to you for these great videos, they've helped me a lot while trying to figure out fly tying in these past couple of years.
Super👍👍👍
7:43 Ha ha ...
Thanks for the video and a great pattern. I'm tying up some flies to fish grayling in Austria, relatively fast-moving and deep water. Would adding some wire in addition to the bead be overkill? I've never fished grayling before and am wondering if you would recommend this pattern. I've also looked at your Blue Diver.
Great instructions as always.Wonder whether the wing case is really necessary?
When I first saw this pattern I thought the exact same thing and tied a few without it and it just didn't look quite right. Although the wing case adds a good bit of hassle to the pattern I think it might help the fly to crossover from being just a caddis emerger and kind of an all around "mayfly nymph, caddis larva/emerger, buggy looking" type of deal. Then again, I could be over thinking the whole thing. Thanks for watching.
What is the name of the cutting tool at 7:15?
I understand choice of dubbing colors, but not why certain thread colors are chosen. So, why red thread in this case? Is it true that fish see colors differently than we do (i.e. red is brown) ?
I use red thread as a visual trigger, something in contrast to the rest of the pattern. Kind of a "hey look over here" deal. Once you have their attention, the rest of the fly looks natural and like something they are likely to eat. Or so it goes in theory.
Thanks
found a really good chart on hooks : hookandhackleclub.org/doc/Dai-Riki_Comparison_Chart.pdf
You can use Daiichi 1130 - almost same hook
A lot of chatter but no video ….. wasted my time