Okay, I have never actually tied such a fly, instead I thought I would tap in to all the experts and ask their thoughts and ideas.
Right now most subsurface fishing consists of:
1. Nymphs, either dead drift, strip, or lift.
2. Wet flies, drift or lift.
I was recently reading that caddis flies often out number may flies. I also read how about half of the adult caddis flies re-enter the water and swim to the bottom to deposit eggs, The wings are flat over the back and the legs used in swimming. I read that the gold tinsel tail on a lead wing coach man suggested an egg sack and the reason the lead wing coach man doesn't have a tail is because caddis flies don't have a tail.
Okay, I got to thinking: If the egg sack is important, and if the caddis fly adult is swimming to the bottom to deposit eggs, then it seems a trout would hit this fly while in was descending to the bottom. I am not sure if there are many current techniques that are designed to take trout with a descending fly but in some instances, because of casting obstructions, etc, an option of presenting a descending fly may have value.
so let's design such a fly!
If it is a caddis there would be no tail. The egg sack- that I don't know- it could be gold tinsel, yellow floss, or green or red. The body, maybe peacock herl or fur. I read that fur soaks up water and has translucent qualities not found in wool or synthetics- so I would be favorable towards the fur. What color? Tan? Brown? Green? The fly may need to be weighted. I thought about a cone/bead head but the weight may be too far forward, the wings may act as a rubber and cause the fly to drop straight down. maybe a few wraps across the wing position. The idea is for the fly to sink with the body tilted down at about a 45 degree angle- as if it is swimming to the bottom.
A lot of caddis flies have a palmered hackle the entire distance of the body but in looking at the naturals the legs are under the thorax, what about putting on the abdomen, then feeding in the hackle, then dubbing on the thorax and doing a plamered hackle just over the thorax? A lot of caddis flies have spotted type legs so perhaps brown partridge on the hackle?
On the wings, I hate tying on quill and am not very good at it but for those who are a lot of caddis look to have mottled wings so light turkey would probably work. I was thinking about ginger or brown hackle points tied in to lay along the body and maybe a few fibers of the partridge over them to create a mottled look. A combination of mixed hair and partridge fibers could also be used.
In any event a fly must be designed to not twist about while being cast and to act properly in the water and some of you are experts in knowing what materials would work best so that's why I have thrown out my thoughts. I would appreciate any comments. If my entire idea is flawed; or, if such a pattern already exists- then let me know- no use wasting my time on something if it isn't doable.
Right now most subsurface fishing consists of:
1. Nymphs, either dead drift, strip, or lift.
2. Wet flies, drift or lift.
I was recently reading that caddis flies often out number may flies. I also read how about half of the adult caddis flies re-enter the water and swim to the bottom to deposit eggs, The wings are flat over the back and the legs used in swimming. I read that the gold tinsel tail on a lead wing coach man suggested an egg sack and the reason the lead wing coach man doesn't have a tail is because caddis flies don't have a tail.
Okay, I got to thinking: If the egg sack is important, and if the caddis fly adult is swimming to the bottom to deposit eggs, then it seems a trout would hit this fly while in was descending to the bottom. I am not sure if there are many current techniques that are designed to take trout with a descending fly but in some instances, because of casting obstructions, etc, an option of presenting a descending fly may have value.
so let's design such a fly!
If it is a caddis there would be no tail. The egg sack- that I don't know- it could be gold tinsel, yellow floss, or green or red. The body, maybe peacock herl or fur. I read that fur soaks up water and has translucent qualities not found in wool or synthetics- so I would be favorable towards the fur. What color? Tan? Brown? Green? The fly may need to be weighted. I thought about a cone/bead head but the weight may be too far forward, the wings may act as a rubber and cause the fly to drop straight down. maybe a few wraps across the wing position. The idea is for the fly to sink with the body tilted down at about a 45 degree angle- as if it is swimming to the bottom.
A lot of caddis flies have a palmered hackle the entire distance of the body but in looking at the naturals the legs are under the thorax, what about putting on the abdomen, then feeding in the hackle, then dubbing on the thorax and doing a plamered hackle just over the thorax? A lot of caddis flies have spotted type legs so perhaps brown partridge on the hackle?
On the wings, I hate tying on quill and am not very good at it but for those who are a lot of caddis look to have mottled wings so light turkey would probably work. I was thinking about ginger or brown hackle points tied in to lay along the body and maybe a few fibers of the partridge over them to create a mottled look. A combination of mixed hair and partridge fibers could also be used.
In any event a fly must be designed to not twist about while being cast and to act properly in the water and some of you are experts in knowing what materials would work best so that's why I have thrown out my thoughts. I would appreciate any comments. If my entire idea is flawed; or, if such a pattern already exists- then let me know- no use wasting my time on something if it isn't doable.