Fly Tying Inventory
Spent Partridge Caddis
The Spent Partridge Caddis imitates a caddisfly that has finished laying its eggs and fallen spent, caught in the surface film. Trout often feed on these spent adults, so it is a good choice during a caddis hatch when fish are looking up. It has a dubbed body, an underwing of Z-Lon or Antron, two mottled brown partridge feathers tied flat over the body as wings, a peacock herl thorax and a hackle of dyed grizzly, cree or a brown and grizzly mix. Tied here on a TMC 100 dry fly hook.
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Materials
Tiemco TMC 100 Standard Dry Fly hook
6/0 or 8/0 thread
6/0 or 8/0
Life Cycle caddis dubbing
Z-Lon (or Antron yarn), for the underwing
Mottled brown partridge body feathers, two
Mottled Brown
Natural peacock herl
Natural
Dyed grizzly rooster hackle (or cree, or brown and grizzly mixed)
How to Tie the Spent Partridge Caddis
- 1
Step 1
Start the thread and wrap it back to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Dub a slim body of caddis dubbing from the bend forward, stopping well short of the eye to leave room for the wings and thorax.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in a small bunch of Z-Lon or Antron on top at the front of the body as an underwing that lies back over the body. Trim it to length.
- 4
Step 4
Pick two mottled brown partridge feathers and strip the fluff from their bases.
- 5
Step 5
Lay the partridge feathers flat on top of the body and tie them in by their stems at the front of the body so they cover the underwing. Trim the stems.
Set the wing position before locking the stems down so both feathers lie flat.
- 6
Step 6
Tie in the hackle by its stem and a few strands of peacock herl at the front of the body.
- 7
Step 7
Wrap the peacock herl forward to form the thorax and tie it off behind the eye.
- 8
Step 8
Wrap the hackle forward through the thorax, tie it off and trim the tip.
- 9
Step 9
Whip finish and trim the thread.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFgnmDzyAqQ
Credit: Mike Lawson / Henry's Fork Anglers