Caddis patterns that dont involve any sort of hair wings?

[Hellgrammite 0]

Anyone have any decent caddis patterns that are easy to tie and do NOT involve any sort of deer or elk hair? Currently i tie my caddis with duck quill wings and palmered hackle, theyre good producers, but arent the most durable things. (It IS nice that i am able to use the same materials on all my mayfly and caddis imitations)

 

Thanks.

[bank feeder 0]

The IRIS Caddis (blue ribbon flies) is easy to tie and uses a loop of zelon as a wing. I haven't fished it much but Craig Matthews and the blue ribbon gang have great things to say about it.

 

Bank Feeder

[mvendon 0]

Hi Hellgrammite,

 

Try some Usuals with different body or thread colors. They work great as an emerger or dry caddis pattern.

 

Regards,

Mark

[utyer 0]

Try using some Turkey wing or tail slips as wings. You can use two slips, or one wide slip that you fold and clip a notch in the end. Pheasant "church window" body feathers are also goo for caddis wings. A little flexable sealer applied to the feathers will make them more durable. I use spray fixative from Michaels, or thinned down flexamint will do as well.

[Firetiger 0]

Try CDC - it is easy to tie and floats like a cork (till the first fish that is). The fine barbs add translucency and mobility to your fly. And you can use it on mayflies as well

 

 

[whatfly 0]

OK, I'll bite, why would you want to exclude the best wing material out there from consideration? Allergies?

 

The problem is deer and elk are very hard to beat, especially in rough water situations. While alternatives exist, I consider them all suboptimal in comparison. You could take a look at the F-Fly (CDC wing), Snowshoe Caddis (or as mentioned Usual), Barr's Web Wing Caddis, and Sanchez' Foam Wing Caddis, for inspiration. Polypropylene yarn makes a pretty good caddis wing in a pinch as well. YMMV

[jburge 0]

Anyone have any decent caddis patterns that are easy to tie and do NOT involve any sort of deer or elk hair? Currently i tie my caddis with duck quill wings and palmered hackle, theyre good producers, but arent the most durable things. (It IS nice that i am able to use the same materials on all my mayfly and caddis imitations)

 

Thanks.

 

Have you seen this one?

 

http://wcflies.com/blog/2009/03/henrys-fork-caddis/

 

A really nice fly, and it's been productive for me.

 

John

[Hellgrammite 0]

That henrys fork caddis looks like a winner, thanks much!

 

The reason i dont want to use deer hair is indeed due to allergies. That dubbing dispenser in my avatar left for the big scratching post in the sky 2 years ago, and while i loved him much, animal fur and me dont mix. Sadly, no more pets, and if i can help it, no animal hair (i had to give up trapping for the same reason)

 

Thanks again!

[jburge 0]

That henrys fork caddis looks like a winner, thanks much!

 

The reason i dont want to use deer hair is indeed due to allergies. That dubbing dispenser in my avatar left for the big scratching post in the sky 2 years ago, and while i loved him much, animal fur and me dont mix. Sadly, no more pets, and if i can help it, no animal hair (i had to give up trapping for the same reason)

 

Thanks again!

 

Sorry to hear about the allergies--my oldest son has the same problem.

 

The Henry's Fork is a great fly. I've used it in a number of Sierra streams and have caught 'bows, browns, and goldens. Good luck!

 

John

 

[Flyweaver 0]

You can't beat a Vermont Hares Ear caddis, with and without a tail. It's the only caddis I use and in my fishing,it out fishes the EHC

[Moscow 0]

Hi Hellgrammite,

 

I like to use a CV Caddis tied with a Hi-Vis wing. No hair involved. The nice thing about the CV Caddis is when it does get wet it only takes a few false casts and it floats right back on top again. Here's a link to a write up on it I did several years ago for my club newsletter.

 

http://www.clearwaterflycasters.com/newsletter/2001fotm.pdf

 

Tim

Moscow, Idaho

[carlp5351 0]

Check out Barr's web wing caddis. Easy to tie and wing very durable

 

 

 

http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/de...cfm?parentID=99

 

 

carlp