Fly Tying Inventory
Peeping Caddis
The Peeping Caddis imitates a caddis larva peeking out of its case. Davie McPhail ties this version on a jig hook with a black tungsten bead, so it rides point up and gets down quickly. A short piece of chartreuse wool with a burnt tip forms the larva's head and body at the rear, partridge fibers suggest its legs, and a thick body of hare's mask fur ribbed with copper wire stands in for the case. Tied here on a size 14 hook.
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Materials
Black tungsten bead, 3mm
Black · 3mm
Chartreuse wool with the tip burnt to form the larva's head
Chartreuse
Partridge fibers
Natural
Copper wire
Copper
Hare's mask body fur
Natural
How to Tie the Peeping Caddis
- 1
Step 1
Slide the black tungsten bead onto the jig hook and set the hook in the vise.
- 2
Step 2
Hold a short length of chartreuse wool and touch the end to a flame so it melts into a dark, rounded tip for the larva's head.
- 3
Step 3
Start the black thread behind the bead and run it back to the bend.
- 4
Step 4
Tie the wool in at the bend so the burnt tip projects past it. Bind it down to leave a short, bright green section behind the burnt head, then trim any excess wool.
- 5
Step 5
Tie in a few partridge fibers at the front of the green section so they splay out around it as legs. Trim the butts.
- 6
Step 6
Tie in the copper wire at the same point.
- 7
Step 7
Dub the hare's mask fur onto the thread and build a thick, rough body forward to the bead to form the case.
- 8
Step 8
Rib the copper wire forward over the body in open turns, tie it off behind the bead and break off the excess.
- 9
Step 9
Whip finish behind the bead and trim the thread. Trim the legs if they are too long.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDhdkMkoQOY
Credit: Davie McPhail