"55 on the fly" - fly

The "Korn's Spent Wing Caddis", pictured here and at the top of this blog, got a nice plug on "The Fly Fishing in Yellowstone National Park" blog about half way down the page. I tie this fly for Parks' Fly Shop in tan and olive, there it's called: "Doug's Drowned Pheasant Caddis".

See the plug here: http://flyfishyellowstone.blogspot.com/2010/04/gentility-now.html

This caddis pattern is a great guide fly, if it's fished properly. I fish it as a trailing fly tied about 12-18 inches behind a dry fly, like an X-Caddis or a hopper. Do not put any floatant on it! When it hits the water it floats for a bit on top, then sinks in the film, then slightly under the film, then bam - fish on! Really, this is my go to fly and it works just as well in the East or West.

If you are interested in tying the fly a materials list and tying steps are here:

Hook: MFCo. #7000 Dry 14-18

Thread: Serafil 200

Rib: tag end of thread

Abdomen: DK#12 Caddis Tan dubbing split thread and spun

Palmered hackle: ginger rooster neck.

Wing: 2 hen pheasant wing or neck feathers

Steps:

1. Start thread at eye, wrap thread base to bend of hook, leave tag end for rib.

2. Split thread, dub and spin, form tight dubbing noodle, wind forward to form body.

3. Tie in hackle 1 eye length behind eye, palmer front to back.

4. Trap hackle at bend with the tag end of the thread, wrap through hackle and tie off at eye, clip hackle short on top..

5. Prepare 2 pheasant wing or neck feathers, tied in flat one on top of the other, 1 gap length longer than hook, tied behind eye then folded over to form head and wrapped and whip finished. Varnish head, clipped “^” out of center, bottom hackle.