 In early spring the rocks on many of the rivers I fish are covered in cased caddis. On breaking apart, these cases reveal a tan or green colored caddis larva/pupa. I am always amazed at this little bugs ability to mold a case around itself. It is another one of those things that draws me to a river. When the pupa leaves its case it is fair game for the trout. The rubber band nymph well imitates this stage. I have used a tan band but a green one would work just as well. I would suggest using a sink-tip or maybe weighting the hook. In fact a gold or silver bead-head might be just the thing.  |
Step 1 Cut the rubber band at an angle and attach, using tan thread, approximately one quarter from the eye of a curved nymph hook.Run the thread over the stretched band around the bend and then run the thread back to the quarter point.  Step 2 Stretch the band and wind, creating segments, back to the quarter point and tie off. Relaxing the band will create wider segments. Stretch the excess and remove.  Step 3 Attach a partridge feather by the tip, take one turn, pull the barbules to the underside and tie off. Trim the barbules to an appropriate leg length. Dub the thread with tan dubbing, create the head and tie off.  Hatching caddis pupa Attach a partridge feather by the tip, take one turn and tie off. Dub the thread with tan dubbing, create the head and tie off.  Drifting cased caddis The drifting cased caddis is well represented by various patterns. This one is built backwards with the head of the case at the bend (similar to the Leadhead).  |