My Nemesis in Tying

Years ago, I purchased an EC Caddis out West and the fly was so successful, I went to Blue Ribbon Flies to try to cajole them into demonstrating how to tie it. Neither Bucky, Craig or Juracek was there, so no one was able to demo it for me.

Upon returning home, I watched a Youtube video on it and have found it to be inexplicably difficult for me to tie. Not sure why. I’m reasonably sure that others face this problem with a particular pattern??

However, it is still a favorite of mine to fish.

This is “supposed” to be an EC Caddis. Trying to face my fears.

Bet you ;ole Mercer’s Missing Link too . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnDfUqmpFPM

Never tied one, but I think it would be similar.

What is your problem with it?
Cheers,
A.

Don’t tie it very well.

Byron,

I just tie 'em (E/C Caddis) and Mercer’s Missing Link, the Trout seem to like both patterns - no matter what I think…although I do, at times, force the wing down with my thumbnail, while in use…

[](http://s305.photobucket.com/user/planettrout/media/FOR FTV/ec-cad-var-bunch-1_zps74704fa6.jpg.html)

http://stevenojai.tripod.com/eccaddis.htm

PT/TB :wink:

Charlie Craven has a SBS for one of the same name.
http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/details.cfm?parentID=183

PT,
Nice! I like the sorta loop on the trailing shuck.

Byron,

It is my belief that Caddis emergers and cripples should appear messy…kinda’ like this one:

http://www.blue-ribbon-flies.com/shop/shop/

PT/TB :wink:

Here’s this morning’s messy one.
Tied it with a “folded wing” sorta like Craig Matthews’ Amber Iris Caddis idea…

[

](http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/byhaugh/media/IMG_5961_zps6502e4f4.jpg.html)

Size 16 EC

Byron,

That wing is indeed flat…on the Iris variant

PT/TB :smiley:

If you are looking for a down wing with a parachute hackle there is an alternative method, You may remember I posted this some time ago.



(I know this fly doesn’t have the shuck, but it is the winging method that I gather is the problem)

On my example I have tied the wing in forward, if you want the butts to show like the head on an EHC that is easy to achieve, perhaps even easier, using the same method.
Cheers,
A.

Good pattern AlanB, and nice tie.

Just an aside, as discussed in another thread, due to the “explosive” nature of the caddis’ emergence, I almost always have a trailing shuck to imitate the cripple target for the fish.

If an adult pattern, I use a green butt to indicate an egg-laying female returning to the water to lay eggs.

Again, very nice pattern and tied well, as always.

Thanks Byron, I often do the same with the green on an adult. I think my use of it comes from the G&H Caddis, which has a dubbing loop of “Arc Chrome” wool pulled under the deer hair body.

The down wing is formed by tying the parachute around a loop of mono, then insert the wing into the mono loop and pull tight. A drop of head cement on the loop helps fix it. Take the tag end of the loop out with a heated bodkin to secure it.

Cheers,
A.