X-Caddis (Modified)

[Byron haugh]

One of my most productive caddis patterns is still the X-Caddis.

Recently, I have been using Marc Petigean tools and techniques with CDC.

I quickly admit, this tie is pretty rough, but, I think it deserves some serious use this summer. The body is a Petijean style twisted CDC feather which is then trimmed all around. The twisting gives the body something of a segmented look and a natural conical shape, and the remaining CDC fluff might not hurt the buoyancy.

Anyway, plan to tie up some more and do a better job of it for stream testing in mid-june.

[NJTroutbum]

Nice pattern Byron. The twisted cdc body works great on Haystacks too.

[billknepp]

Your tying looks a bit too polished in my opinion.. it's usually the not so perfect fly that catches the most fish..I used to try n keep everything neat n tidy.. but I found my catch rate dropped as I "improved" my tying... That said.. what's your taking material here? Good sir..

[1hook]

Looks good, body color is nice

[Byron haugh]

Thanks.
Bill, appreciate your thoughts. Didn't quite understand your question, though. Please clarify?
Thanks,
Byron

[Byron haugh]

[maodiver]

And if the CDC is long enough...fold a little back for an underwing?

[jcampbell]

Nice job Byron. Let us know how it turns out on the water this summer. I'm sure it will be a winner.

[Byron haugh]

And if the CDC is long enough...fold a little back for an underwing?

You could, but the CDC is tied in at the tip back at hook bend. At the front of the fly you end up with a pretty pronounced stem and not much CDC. Haven't tried it, but my surmising.

[rainbowchaser]

Why not try one tied the other way, that is tied in by the butt? That would put the taper in proper direction for a caddis and let you try the tip if any is left as an underwing. I'd give it a try myself before making speculative suggestion but my gout is not allowing me to tie right now.