Electric Caddis - Fly Tying Tutorial

John Collins created this realistic looking caddis pattern after observing and photographing natural insects. He found a common trait was the translucent body which he recreated with two common materials.

The core concepts in this fly can be used to create flies that will match your water and local insects. Caddis are key in trout rivers across the world and this is a pattern we love to use with indicator rigs, euro nymphing rigs, and dropper rigs. Once you master the body, these flies are incredibly fast to tie so you can fill a box in no time.

MATERIAL LIST

  • Hook: TMC 2457 (#14-#6)
  • Thread: Veevus 6/0 (Fl. Green Chartreuse) 
  • Body: Ultra WIre Brassie (Chartreuse)
  • Body: Wapsi Stretch Tubing (Small)
  • Thread: Veevus GSP (30D or 50D)
  • Thorax: Ostrich Herl (Black or Brown)
  • Wing Case: Solarez (Medium)

TOOLS USED

TYING NOTES

Different size flies will need to use different combinations of tubing and wire. If you're tying smaller versions for trout, downsize. If you'd like to tie some of these for Steelhead, consider sizing the hook up to a 6 or 8 you may not need to size up the body. Mix things up for how you like to fish. You can easily add a bead, a hen feather to create a pupa or even cdc or antron to imitate an emerger. 

FISHING NOTES:

I like this pattern because it has a slender body that sinks quickly. It looks like a fly that would take much longer to tie but I never feel bad breaking one off. I can pre-load my wire & tubing and quickly refill a box at the end of the night. With a tungsten bead, this will work wonderfully as a point fly in a euro setup. I also really like to add a wrap of hen and swing this fly as a soft hackle. The bright body demands the attention of hungry fish!

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