A Spent Caddis Pattern

[Byron haugh]

A recent post had a spent caddis pattern. I think they are often/mostly overlooked on the stream.

[John Rhoades]

I like that pattern, and think it would also be nice to try with your twisted CDC body, Byron, or perhaps some of that LaFontaine antron dubbing.

[Bruce Norikane]

Beauty.

I never think about spent caddis on stream. Two reasons for my disfunction. First, spent caddis are very hard to see, unless you're looking right down on them. Second, trout take them with a gentle sipping rise. I just don't think caddis when I see that rise. I fish mayfly or midge emergers or spinners, when I see sipping fish.

I tied up some of these and some of the spin=o-rama spent caddis and will force myself to fish them.

Byron, your pattern with the wrapped hackle gives me an idea. I have a lot of very long dry hackles that I never use. I'll try wrapping then forcing them down and back with the shellback material and dubbing. Cut flush on the bottom.

[Byron haugh]

Bruce,
Just to be clear, the spent caddis I showed above is one I tied, but not my pattern. The name and originator escapes me now, but I believe it is a pretty old pattern.

John, those are good ideas on the body. Will definitely try that.

[Joe Billingsley]

One of my favorites is Charlie Craven's Screaming Banshee. Although Charlie says he originated it for a skating caddis, he says it doubles as a cripple. It has worked well for me as a spent caddis, or at least that's what I believe it is taken for. But, who knows?


Joe