Clown Shoe Caddis

Materials

How to Tie the Clown Shoe Caddis

1. 1

   Step 1

   Secure the hook in the vise and start the olive thread behind the eye. Wrap a smooth thread base back to the bend of the hook.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Tie in a piece of small clear D-Rib at the hook bend. Wrap the D-Rib forward in touching turns to form a segmented, translucent abdomen. Tie off and trim at the thorax area.

   The D-Rib creates a tough, realistic abdomen that won't fall apart after multiple fish.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Clean and stack a small clump of elk hair. Measure to hook shank length, then tie in as a wing extending back over the body. Trim the butts at an angle.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Tie in a small tuft of fluorescent McFlyfoam on top of the wing tie-in point. Post it upright and secure with figure-eight wraps.

   The bright post is the key feature—it makes the fly visible in choppy water.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Tie in a grizzly hackle feather at the base of the post. Dub a small thorax of black Superfine dubbing around the base.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Palmer the hackle 3-4 turns around the post, parachute style. Tie off, trim the excess hackle, and whip finish. Apply a small drop of head cement.