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The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Emerger

Holy Grail Caddis Emerger

Insect Species Icon Little Black Caddis, Caddis, October Caddis
Difficulty Icon Easy - 1-3 Min
Water Category Icon Coldwater

Tying Video

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Tying Recipe
  • Hook: Curved emerger hook 2x short size #14
  • Bead: 3/32″ tungsten bead gold
  • Thread: UTC 70 red
  • Rib: Flashabou small pearl
  • Body: Wapsi natural fur dubbing hares mask
  • Wing case: Pheasant tail fibers
  • Thorax: Wapsi natural fur dubbing hares mask
  • Wing: Hungarian partridge feather
  • Hook: Any hook will do fine here, tie it on a straight shank if you like.
  • Bead: Tungsten or brass beads are interchangeable for this fly. Try not to get too crazy with the color of the bead. Silver, gold or black works well.
  • Thread: Thin diameter thread is a must to ensure correct proportions. 8/0  or 70 denier work well for this pattern, though red thread is not a requirement.
  • Rib: Try small wire for ribbing if you don’t have flashabou.
  • Body: Any natural colored dubbing will work here. Squirrel or beaver are great substitutes for hares mask.
  • Wing case: Turkey tail fibers will work here in place of pheasant tail, or for a synthetic material try thin skin.
  • Thorax: Use the same dubbing as in the body.
  • Wing: Hen saddle is a great substitute for hungarian partridge, though be mindful that the fibers may be longer.

This is another buggy caddis pattern that can be altered to whatever you’re looking for. For an even buggier fly, consider adding some CDC right before you tie in the partridge feather for an extra bushy wing. Consider using some dyed green hares mask for a more realistic caddis pupa.

This is a great pattern to use at the early stages of caddis hatches when the bugs are still deep, as the tungsten bead will sink this fly quickly into the strike zone. This pattern is not only good to use during hatches, but also a great search pattern that will work regardless of a heavy hatch or not.

This is a very buggy pattern that can be fished in any manner. The partridge feather in front allows for this fly to be swung or dead drifted, so don’t worry about getting a perfectly still drift. If fishing this fly as a dropper under a dry, be sure to hang it under a dry fly that will float the tungsten bead, as it will sink most dries. Fish this pattern under a dry fly, as the tag on a euro nymph rig, or under an indicator.

Caddis

General Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Caddis
Sizes: #10 - #22

Little Black Caddis

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West
Little Black Caddis
Sizes: #14 - #20
Region: Northwest
Little Black Caddis
Sizes: #14 - #20
Region: East, Midwest
Little Black Caddis
Sizes: #14 - #20
Region: Southeast
Little Black Caddis
Sizes: #14 - #20

October Caddis

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, East
October Caddis
Sizes: #8 - #12

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