Fly Tying Inventory
October Caddis / Orange Stimulator
A large, buoyant Stimulator-style dry fly designed to imitate the October Caddis (Dicosmoecus) hatch—the giant orange caddisflies of autumn. Also doubles as a stonefly adult imitation. Combines elk hair wing, palmered body hackle, and orange dubbing for excellent floatation and visibility in riffled water.
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Materials
3XL curved dry fly hook (TMC 200R or Mustad 94831), size 6-12
Burnt orange or fluorescent flame 70 denier
Natural elk hair or deer hair, short bunch
Fine gold or copper wire (XS or small)
Orange Antron dubbing or SLF Kaufmann's hot orange
Brown hackle, 2 sizes smaller than hook, palmered through body
Hot orange Krystal Flash, 2-3 strands
Natural elk hair or deer hair, stacked and flared
Fluorescent orange Antron dubbing or golden stone dubbing
Grizzly hackle, sized to hook, wound through thorax
How to Tie the October Caddis / Orange Stimulator
- 1
Step 1
Secure the hook and start burnt orange thread. Wrap a base back to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in a short, flared bunch of elk hair for the tail at the bend.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in fine gold or copper wire for the rib at the tail base.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in a brown hackle at the tail base for body hackle.
- 5
Step 5
Dub an orange body forward to the 60% mark, slightly tapered.
- 6
Step 6
Palmer the brown hackle forward over the body in open spirals.
- 7
Step 7
Counter-wrap the wire rib forward to secure the hackle. Tie off both.
- 8
Step 8
Optionally add 2-3 strands of hot orange Krystal Flash under the wing position.
- 9
Step 9
Stack and tie in a generous bunch of elk hair as a wing, tips extending past the bend.
- 10
Step 10
Dub a bulky thorax with fluorescent orange dubbing. Tie in grizzly hackle and wind 3-4 turns through the thorax. Tie off.
- 11
Step 11
Build a neat thread head, whip finish, and cement.
This pattern shines during the fall October Caddis hatch but also works as an attractor any time large insects are on the water.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YHsvDMp8DM
Credit: Randall Kaufmann (Stimulator variant)