Hook: Dai-Riki 305 #10
Thread: Sheer 14/0 Black
Body: UNI-Mylar #10 Gold/Silver, Wapsi Micro Zonker in different configurations (over/under)
Head: 3mm Bead, Hare’s ear Plus Dubbin Dark Olive
Got a shipment of some eyeless hooks from Taimen and while I had a order in I got some micro zonkers to see what I could do with them, these small strips of squirrel zonkers makes for a very good pattern that should come alive in the water
One on a #12 TMC 5263 streamer hook:
Hook: Mustad 94840 #20
Thread: Sheer 14/0 Brown
Body: Whiting Bronze Brown
Wing: Wapsi Premo Deer Hair Natural Brown
I follow a lot of blogs and read my own planet.dryfly.me daily to get inspiration and ideas on new patterns to try out, the other day smallflyfunk had a #20 deer hair caddis that I reallly liked the look of. I got two new strips of deer hair not long ago: the Wapsi Premo Deer Hair, which I really enjoy working with on slightly larger patterns, but on smaller patterns I have never used much deer hair since the previous strips I’ve tried just wasn’t good enough for tying in on such a small hook. So: this #20 pattern was a just the test I needed to see how it holds up.
The quality of the hair is great, the #20 caddis was a breeze to do, the limiting factor is actually getting the wing small enough when you hold it to tie it in! If you are tying caddis or other patterns that require deer hair: go into a shop and really get a feel for how it is, and spend that extra money on a good strip of hair, it will help you a lot in the future ( or you will end up, like me, with lots of bad pieces of hair in a box ). Read this article on choosing hair on globalflyfisher.com
The caddis on my thumb for size:
Hook: Dai-Riki 305 #12
Thread: Sheer 14/0 Black
Tail: Mallard Flank
Body: Wapsi Natural Fur Mink
Thorax: Ostrich, Black
Wing: Jungle Cock
The danica.com site of Hans Weilenmann provides a lot of inspiration and ideas for new patterns to try out, here is my Evil Eye interpretation with the materials I have available.
I like the jungle cock eyes that should make this a real eye-catcher for the trout, it is also very easy to tie up and should work in different color combinations. This is one to test out in the river when it opens for fishing again.
Hook: Mustad 94840 #16
Thread: Sheer 14/0 White
Tag: Wapsi Life Cycle Bright Green
Body: Taimen Beaver Dubbing Dk. Gray
Wing: Hareline Snowshoe Rabbit Feet Olive
Head: Taimen Beaver Dubbing Dk. Gray
Snowshoe Rabbit feet is not something I have worked a lot with, but here I am experimenting with a small caddis-like fly with different tag colors to see how they will behave and attract trout. The hair from the rabbit feet will be great for a vibrant wing, looking forward to taking this to the river tomorrow.
This nymph blend from Wapsi was one of the first dubbing packages that I bought and I have gone through quite a few packages, I don’t know if it is because I started out with this or if it is because I really like it! The blend is easy to work with and gives a life in nymphs (and slender emerger bodies) that I appreciate.
The blend is a good mixture between fine and long fibers
Dubbing on the thread is very easy: can be applied both in a thin and quite a thick layer on the thread
Dubbed on a Mustad 94840 #14 here, the long fibers tend to stick out and give lots of life to the body
On a Dai-Riki 135 #14 hook, with Hareline Scudback 1/8″ and Ultra wire wrapped. Here the blend comes through to its name and creates long nice legs on the fly
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