Fly Tying

How to Tie the Holy Grail Caddis Fly Pattern

Feb 01, 2022 · 2 min read
Stephen D' AngeloBy Stephen D' Angelo
Stephen D' Angelo
Stephen D' Angelo

Stephen D'Angelo is a fly fishing expert with a passion for fly tying, gear, and time on the water. From small-stream trout to saltwater flats fish...

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How to Tie the Holy Grail Caddis Fly Pattern

Learn how to tie the Holy Grail Caddis Fly Pattern including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly tying skills here

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The Holy Grail Caddis is the caddis pupa you've been searching for. It is insanely simple to tie yet incredibly effective. Vary the colors of the dubbing and the bead to match the hatch.

Recipe

Step One

Gold bead head caddis fly hook with red thread and black curved hook held in vise for fly tying tutorial

Begin the pattern by inserting the bead onto the hook's shank and laying down a thread base. Tie the thread at the position where the shank is parallel to the hook's point.

Step Two

Hook clamped in metal vise with gold bead head and red thread body on black hook for Holy Grail caddis fly, fly tying

For the next step, tie on the Flashabou material on top of the shank's middle section, then wind the thread down past the shank's curve.

Step Three

Gold beadhead caddis fly with fuzzy brown dubbing and red thread wraps on curved hook held in vise, fly fishing pattern

For the next step, tie on the Flashabou material on top of the shank's middle section, then wind the thread down past the shank's curve.

Step Four

Gold beadhead caddis fly with tan dubbing, blue flash rib and red thread on a black hook for fly fishing

Take the tag end of the Flashabou material and make evenly spaced wraps around the dubbed body. Again, stop when the thread runs parallel with the hook point, then clip the outward-facing fabric.

Step Five

Caddis fly pattern on vise: gold bead head, tan dubbing with green flash, red thread thorax and dark feather wings

The pattern's shellback consists of pheasant tail material. Clip the tip-ends off several pieces, then stack them on top of each other and tie on the shank. Be sure to leave a scissor's tip width between the material and bead.

Step Six

Beadhead Holy Grail caddis fly with gold bead, olive dubbed body, peacock herl ribbing and dark feather tail in vise

Apply more dubbing to the thread, then wrap around the thorax until the thread base is completely covered.

Step Seven

Golden-bead Holy Grail caddis fly: olive-brown fuzzy dubbing body with iridescent rib and long feather tail on curved hook

Push the bead back against the dubbed section, then make several securing wraps in front of the bead.

Step Eight

Bead-head Holy Grail caddis fly pattern with gold bead, olive fuzzy dubbing, dark feather wing on vise

Finish the shellback section by pulling the Pheasant Tail material forward, then make several supporting wraps in front of the bead.

Step Nine

Olive-brown caddis fly with gold bead head, wispy hackle, peacock-flash rib and red thread on curved hook

Tie on the tip of the partridge feather in front of the bead, then make several wraps around the shank's neck for the Holy Grail's collar.

Step Ten

Gold-bead Holy Grail caddis fly with olive dubbing, peacock flashes and red thread head for fly fishing

Complete the tying process by securing a whip finish in front of the bead.

Step Eleven

Beadhead Holy Grail caddis fly with olive dubbing, iridescent rib and purple hackle clamped in vise

Before the Holy Grail is ready for the water, apply resin to the head, then hit the UV light.

Stephen D' Angelo
Written by

Stephen D' Angelo

Stephen D'Angelo is a fly fishing expert with a passion for fly tying, gear, and time on the water. From small-stream trout to saltwater flats fishing, Stephen brings hands-on experience across a wide range of species and scenarios — and he's always happy to help you find the right setup for your next adventure.

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