Tying Instructions: Bill's Stick Caddis

1. Slide the appropriately sized bead over the hook. Wrap .020" lead-free wire around the shank and push the wire into the bead hole to fill the void. Use a larger thickness of wire if the bead cavity is larger. The wire should have between 12 to 20 wraps depending upon weight desired.
Step One
2. Secure the lead-free wire with thread wraps and wrap the thread back to the bend of the hook for the tail tie-in position. An application of cement over the thread wraps securing the wire will help anchor the wire to the shank.
Step Two
3. Attach a small amount of marabou for a tail.
Step Three
4. Secure the butt ends along the shank to just behind the wire wraps.
Step Four
5. Create a dubbing loop that is 3-5 inches in length. This is done by drawing the thread below the shank for a loop and securing the loop with interlocking thread wraps around the shank. A tool, such as Cal Bird dubbing tool, will hold the loop strands apart. Bring the bobbin thread to the one third position on the shank as this is where the dubbed loop will be wrapped.
Step Five
6. Prepare a blend of Copper Lite Brite, Orange Antron and Dark Olive Angora Goat dubbing. I use a coffee blender to aid in the mix.
Step Six
7. Apply the mixed dubbing to the loop. You can use the dubbing tool to twist the material between the strands and you can also arrange the material on the loop so that more of the material will be on the furthest portion of the loop to give a taper effect upon wrapping. Twist the loop to achieve a tight rope. Once twisted, remove the dubbing tool and secure the ends with a hackle plier Wrap the roped dubbing forward about 1 third the shank length, then secure with a couple of thread wraps. Bring the hackle plier over the rear of the fly to keep the dubbing mixture out of the way as you put the "sticks" on. Step Seven
8.The "sticks" are Pheasant Tail fibers. Attach two pair of fibers by folding them around the thread and anchoring each pair to the sides of the shank. Use thread wraps around the base of the fibers to sweep the fibers back over the shank. Now, wrap another 1 third of the shank with the dubbed rope blend. Again secure with some thread wraps and bring the remaining rope to the rear with the hackle pliers still attached. Secure another two pairs of folded Pheasant Tail fibers for "sticks". Again, secure these fibers with some thread wraps that will sweep the fibers backwards. Bring the remaining dubbed rope forward , leaving some space behind the bead. Secure with thread wraps and trim off the excess.
Step Eight
9. Apply a pale yellow collar that is about 1/8 inch thick. This represents the actual body of the larvae.
Step Nine
10. Prepare a Black Hen Hackle for the nymph legs. Remove the lower webby fibers and attach the hackle by the tip.
Step Ten
11. Wrap the hackle about 2-3 turns and secure with thread wraps. Trim the tag end of the hen hackle. Step Eleven
12. Apply some black dubbing just behind the bead. Put on a whip finish. Pick out the pale yellow collar material to give a fuzzy appearance and instill more life to the fly.
Step Nine

©2007 Steve Schalla
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