Bob Jacklin Style "Fluttering Caddis"

[Byron haugh]

I was tying some caddis flies and thought maybe others weren't aware of Bob Jacklin's Fluttering Caddis Pattern.
Bob is the owner of Bob Jacklin's Fly Shop in West Yellowstone, Mt. He has been fishing the Yellowstone Area since 1963 when he drove from New York and camped at Madison Junction Campground.

He is a great guy and my son and I had the opportunity of being guided by him on the Madison River this past summer.

Anyway, his version is tied a little differently. After forming the body, he stacks the deer hair and lays it in with the tips extending over the eye. He flares the hair and then, while never releasing the butt ends, he trims them at a 45 degree angle at the rear of the fly. He then cuts the tips close to the hook shank and hackles the front of the fly.

His reason for tying the caddis this way is that he believes he gets a better silhouette view from the trout's view and the hollow deer hair ends float better than the tips which tend not to be hollow. He does admit that since you cut the butt ends, after a while they will soak water and you may have to dry it out again.

From the side




From below

[NJTroutbum]

Makes sense. I've known folks to tie in the wing on Stimulators in that manner for the same reasons. Nice pattern.

[Joe Billingsley]

I was told 30+ years ago when I first started tying to always cover the cut-off butts of the hair with head cement on Elk Hair Caddis or any fly that the hollow butts were exposed. I haven't heard anybody recommend doing that in years. It could help on that fly.....if it really works.

Joe

[Byron haugh]

I only mentioned the exposed, clipped hair butts as a matter of full disclosure.

One reason he ties the fly this way is to employ the buoyant hollow hairs instead of the non-hollow tips.

All clipped deer hair flies incorporate such and float well, i.e., irrestible, Goddard Caddis, etc.