How to Tie a Caddis Emerger

The caddis emerger fly is a favorite of many fly fishermen because it is perfect for landing a rainbow or brown trout. The fly is designed to resemble caddisflies found in streams, where they hatch in the spring and the fall. The fly's abdomen soaks up water, but its wings hold on the surface of the water, much like an emerging adult caddisfly. Because the standard caddis fly dries sometimes go unnoticed, use this pattern in times of a heavy hatch and use a bit of floatant on the wing to ensure that the fly floats.

Things You'll Need

  • #16 or #14 Hook
  • Brown uni-thread 6/0
  • Loop of tying thread
  • Tuft of abdomen dubbing
  • Caddis emerger dubbing
  • Natural deer hair
  • Squirrel dubbing blend
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cover the front half of the shank using the tying thread. Stop halfway between the eye and the hook point. .

    • 2

      Take a small clump of deer hair and even the tips. The clump should be slightly smaller in diameter than a matchstick if you are using a size 14 hook. For a size 16 hook, the clump should be half the size of a matchstick. Tie in with the tips forward, on the top of the shank. Tighten the wraps and take three or four additional turns. Clip the thread butts in a staggered formation to taper the end.

    • 3

      Wind the thread over the butts all the way to the bend. Forming a loop with thread, bring it back into the bend. One fourth of the ways into the bend, fold this section into the wing for a temporary hold. Wrap the shank with thread until you are halfway into the bend.

    • 4

      Roll a small bit of the caddis emerger dubbing into a noodle shape and tie it in halfway into bend. If there are any long fibers, pull them out but do not clip them.

    • 5

      Continue this dubbing up to the point where the ribbing is tied in. Pull ribbing back and continue to dubbing until almost reaching the wing tie-in point.

    • 6

      Wrap thread about five or six turns in the opposite direction. Tie off and clip.

    • 7

      Dub the thorax tightly with squirrel blend about twice the thickness of the abdomen. Dub behind the wing and pull the wing up and build a thread dam to prop the wing up at 45 degrees or more. When completed, dub in front of wing and cement the head.