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Emergent Sparkle Pupa
Brown/Green Emergent Sparkle
Tying Instructions
1. Blend the shuck dubbing by teasing the fibers. Try to keep the fiber ends aligned. Position the fibers to that the shuck is about one hook shank long extending from the bend of the hook just above where the barb would be.
2. Trim the tag end of the shuck material about halfway up the shank and secure with thread wraps. Prepare the overbody blend, again by teasing the fibers and keeping the fiber ends aligned. Attach one end of the overbody just in front of the shuck tie-down position. Generally, I use only one ply to keep the overbody sparse. Once secured, comb the fibers straight.
3. Prepare the underbody dubbing by cutting the material into 1/4 inch segments, then mix by teasing. Apply some wax to the thread and “touch” the dubbing to the thread in an even, yet loose manner. You can lightly twist the material to help it secure to the thread.
4. Wrap the innerbody dubbing forward to just behind the eye. The body should have a number of extending fibers.
5. Divide the overbody material into two segment with your bodkin and bring these segments around each side of the shank. Pull the material foward beyond the eye, then bring the material back to just behind the eye, forming a light ball of fibers. You should be able to see the inner body clearly. Apply a couple of wraps to secure and adjust the fibers evenly around the shank with you bodkin.
6. Trim the tag ends of the overbody and secure with thread wraps. Clip a small portion of deer hair and clean the underfur from it. Stack the hair to even the ends. Then, position the hair so that the ends do not extend beyond the bend of the hook. Secure with thread wraps.
7. Clip of the butt ends of the hair and secure with more thread wraps. The hair should be only on the upper portion of the hook shank.
8. Apply the Superfine dubbing and warp a head. Use a piece of velcro or your bodkin to tease out the fibers. Whip Finish.
| Materials
to Order Material, click the link |
|
|---|---|
| Hook | TMC 900BL #12-18 |
| Thread | Danville Brown 6/0 |
| Head | Brown Superfine |
| Underbody | 1/2 Dark Olive Antron Dubbing , 1/2 Caddis Green Superfine |
| Overbody | 3/4 Olive Antron Yarn , 1/4 White Antron Yarn |
| Shuck | 1/2 Light Olive Antron Dubbing, 1/4 Dark Olive Antron Dubbing, 1/4 White Antron Dubbing |
| Wing | Dark Deer Hair |
Gary LaFontaine
Emergent Sparkle Pupa
The Emergent Sparkle Pupa pattern was developed by Gary LaFontaine around 1974 subsequent to a three year period in which Gary used Scuba gear to study caddis within the Big Hole River of Montana. This fly pattern represents the caddis once it is in the surface film. Gary noticed that caddis pupa were vulnerable only when the pupa was cutting itself free from it’s cocoon and under the surface layer where it splits it’s pupal shuck. Gary found that only rarely will a trout feed or chase the pupa during it’s time of ascent.
The Shimmer
When the caddis pupa cuts from it’s cocoon, there is a 15-20 second period in which the pupa drifts along the bottom generating gas to fill the sheath around it’s body. This gas produces a shimmering effect to the pupa. The ability to mimic this shimmer was critical to Gary’s pattern and he accomplished that effect by using Antron fibers developed by DuPont in 1973. Antron is a trilobal fiber-yarn that is resistant to matting and has the ability to hold air bubbles within water. By utilizing the Antron for the underbody and a sparse overbody, Gary was able to accomplish the gas-attracting qualities of the fly and the translucency required.
Trail of Bubbles
Gary also noticed that while this emergent pupa pattern is within the surface film, the overbody will develop at trail of small bubbles that also acts as an attractor to the fly. Ralph Cutter in his book, “Fish Food” (2005) suggests coating the fly with powdered floatant as a means of creating bubbles around the body. He applies a split shot to compensate for the additional floatation.
Many Colorations
The Emergent Sparkle Pupa can be tied in many colors. The original Sparkle Yarn that Gary used was a blend of a particular color and clear Antron. Clear Antron is no longer available, so many tiers will create a blend using White Antron. Eric Slagle, a quide from Montana, wrote an excellent article on using Antron Dubbing color blends in Fly Tyer , Spring 2006. He would use the dubbing for the overbody as well as the underbody. I find that the yarn is much easier to use for the overbody and use the dubbing blend for the underbody and shuck. For the Sierras, Brown/Green are preferred during the months of April through September. The Brown/Orange is an excellent October Caddis pattern during the months of September and October. Usually the pattern is fished as a dead drift, although Gary usually liked to use some short mends while it was drifting.
Variations
Dark Gray Emergent Sparkle
| Hook | TMC 900BL #12-18 |
| Thread | Danville Gray 6/0 |
| Head | Adams Gray Superfine |
| Underbody | 1/2 Hare's Ear Antron Dubbing , 1/2 Adams Gray Superfine |
| Overbody | 3/4 Gray Antron Yarn , 1/4 White Antron Yarn |
| Shuck | 1/2 Charcoal Gray Antron Dubbing, 1/4 Hare's Ear Antron Dubbing, 1/4 White Antron Dubbing |
| Wing | Dark Deer Hair |
Brown/Cream Emergent Sparkle
| Hook | TMC 900BL #12-20 |
| Thread | Danville Brown 6/0 |
| Head | Brown Marabou |
| Underbody | 1/2 Cahill Cream Antron Dubbing , 1/2 Callibaetis Superfine |
| Overbody | 3/4 Cream Antron Yarn , 1/4 White Antron Yarn |
| Shuck | 1/2 Cahill Cream Antron Dubbing, 1/4 Golden Stone Antron Dubbing, 1/4 White Antron Dubbing |
| Wing | Bleached Deer Hair |
Ginger Emergent Sparkle
| Hook | TMC 900BL #12-20 |
| Thread | Danville Tan 6/0 |
| Head | Light Cahill Superfine |
| Underbody | 1/2 Ginger Antron Dubbing , 1/2 Light Cahill Superfine |
| Overbody | 1/2 Ginger Z-lon , 1/2 White Antron Yarn |
| Shuck | 1/2 Cahill Cream Antron Dubbing, 1/4 Golden Stone Antron Dubbing, 1/4 White Antron Dubbing |
| Wing | Bleached Deer Hair |
