Fly Tying Inventory
Iris Caddis
The Iris Caddis, designed by Craig Mathews and popularized by Tim Flagler's Tightline Productions tutorial, is one of the most effective caddis emerger patterns ever created. It features a distinctive looped Zelon wing that sits in the surface film, mimicking a caddis struggling to emerge. The buggy, shaggy body and trailing shuck complete the realistic presentation.
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Materials
Tiemco 100 dry fly hook, size 14-18
Olive 6/0 or 8/0
Amber Zelon or antron yarn
Blended rabbit and Zelon dubbing, tan or olive
Clear or white crinkled Zelon, formed in a loop
Hare's Ear dubbing, natural
How to Tie the Iris Caddis
- 1
Step 1
Secure the hook in the vise and start the olive thread. Build a smooth thread base from behind the eye to halfway between the point and barb.
- 2
Step 2
Cut about one inch of amber Zelon and tie it in at the bend as a trailing shuck, extending about half a shank length beyond the bend.
- 3
Step 3
Create a dubbing noodle with the rabbit-Zelon blend and dub a slightly tapered, shaggy body forward to about three-quarters of the shank.
Keep the dubbing loose and rough — the buggy appearance is key to this pattern's effectiveness.
- 4
Step 4
Brush out the abdomen dubbing with a dubbing brush for a scraggly, lifelike profile.
- 5
Step 5
Take a strand of clear crinkled Zelon, fold it into a small loop, and tie it flat on top of the hook at the wing position. This is the signature 'iris' wing.
- 6
Step 6
Dub a prominent, shaggy thorax with Hare's Ear dubbing in front of and behind the wing loop.
- 7
Step 7
Build a small thread head, whip finish, and apply head cement.
- 8
Step 8
Rough up the thorax dubbing slightly with your bodkin for extra movement in the water.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU9KTVw3oos
Credit: Craig Mathews / Tim Flagler - Tightline Productions