Byron,

after looking at the flies themselves for a while, I really think you may be on to something with the side mounted foam. The moving water I fish tends to be faster and more broken. I use a lot of foam bodies to ensure floatation without having to use or depend on wound hackle. Adding your side mounted foam would solve a couple of issues for me when the water gets low. A more realistic float lower in the surface film and side to side stability during the drift. Both things I've had issues with with fuller
high floating ties under low water condtitions.

I think I would color the foam so it appears as a case or maybe try to blend it with the body color just because I'd like how it looks better. Doubt it would matter to the fish.

This will give me another thing to play this summer.

Thanks,

Buddy