Dell's John Deere Caddis SBS

All about flies Fly Tying
1

Simple stuff; on larger flies, ostrich might make a better rib.

hook - Dai Riki 135 #14
thread - Danville 6/0 black
body - UTC medium wire olive
rib - pheasant tail
hackle - hen black

mash barb, start thread; tie in wire, wrap to bend

tie in a couple pheasant tail fibers

wrap wire forward; helicopter end one hook eye width back from eye, cover with thread

coat wire with Sally (any UV product would probably work, as well); twist pheasant and wrap rib, tie off/trim

tie in (folded) hackle by tip

wrap hackle, tie off/trim, half hitch x 2, SHHAN

Regards,
Scott

2

Scott,
Thanks for posting another great looking pattern. I was going to ask if you find the pheasant tail rib to be fragile, then noticed that you coat the body with Sally’s, so the PT should adhere and not be so fragile. I have problems doing this in the past, where I probably wrapped too quickly after applying the lacquer, so the PT would absorb it and not look very nice afterwards. Do your wait until the SH is tacky or almost dry?
Thanks,
Ted

3

Scott also twisted the PT fibers together. That furling action adds some strength as well.

4

For a stronger rib leave tail of the tying thread off the hook shank at the start of the fly and twist it in with the pheasant tail