How to Tie a Caddis Larva Nymph

Learn how to tie a Caddis Larva fly pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here.

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Perhaps one of the most popular river insects across the US is the Caddis. Trout are known for feeding on Caddis in all stages, especially the nymphal stage. This variation of a Caddis Larva sinks easily and bounces along the bottom to fool unsuspecting trout. The lifelike segmented body fools picky trout looking for a large nymphal meal and this fly works well as a dropper off of a dry fly, too. Follow along as Jared takes us through the steps to tie this popular Euro Nymphing pattern.

Materials:

We've put together a kit that contains all the materials you need to tie this exact fly pattern.

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• Hanak Competition 300BL Hook - Size 8
• Hareline Spooled Lead Wire
• Hareline Plummeting Tungsten Bead - Black
• UNI Waxed Midge Thread 8/0 - Black
• UNI Mono Thread (Ribbing)
• D's Flyes Crystal Skin - Thin, Moss Green
• Senyo's Laser Dub - Light Olive, Black

Step One:

Start the fly by placing the bead on the hook and wrapping the Lead Wire to create an underbody. Start just behind the bend of the hook and wrap the lead up the hook shank to seat the bead.

Step Two:

Next, start your thread and tie in the Mono that will later be used to rib the fly. Take a few wraps up and down the hook shank to secure the lead wire then tie the Mono in down the bend of the hook.

Step Three:

After tying the Mono in, tie in the Crystal Skin that will later be pulled over top of the fly to create the back of your Caddis Larva. Catch the Crystal Skin with a few loose wraps then position it so that it's directly on top of the hook shank.

Step Four:

Use olive dubbing to create the body of the fly. Create a tight, compact dubbing noodle on your thread and wrap up the hook shank taking touching turns. Finish the olive dubbing noodle about a bead's length behind the bead.

Step Five:

Next, finish the body of the fly by creating a thorax with black dubbing. This will give the fly some contrast and segmentation in the water.

Step Six:

Pull the thin Crystal Skin over the top of the fly and tie it off just behind the bead. Position the skin so it's directly on top of the hook shank and partially covers the dubbing.

Step Seven:

Finally, wrap the Mono ribbing up the fly taking open, spiraling turns to add segmentation to the fly. Tie off the ribbing just behind the bead and snip any excess Mono.

Step Eight:

Trim the excess Crystal Skin, throw a whip finish, add some head cement for extra durability, and you're done! To add buggy-ness to the fly, you can take a dubbing brush and pick out the underbody to give the impression of legs. This is a great little pattern for deeper water when trout are feeding on Caddis on or near the bottom.

Questions?

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