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Scuba Caddis
Scuba Caddis, Dark Dun
Tying Instructions
1. Attach hook to vise and lay down a thread foundation to the bend of the hook. The thread will be right over the start of the barb when hanging below this position.
2. Blend the Hares Ear/Antron mix and apply to the thread by twisting the material wround the thread in a clockwise direction. Bring the dubbing fibers up close to the shank along the thread.
3. Apply two wraps of the dubbed thread around the base of the shank to lock in the fibers. You can apply some additional twisting of the dubbing material around the thread to tighten the material around the thread.
4. Wrap an abdomen. The shape should be like a bullet rather than a narrow taper. Keep the abdomen thick and even towards the front. It should cover about 2/3 of the hook shank.
5. Attach the antennae. The length of the antennae should be about twice the hook shank. Use 4 fibers of Wood Duck Flank for sizes 12-14. Size 16 can have just two fibers. Trim off the tag end of the anntenae and secure with a few thread wraps.
6. Dub the thread with the thorax blend of Hares Mask/Squirrel/Ice Dub. Attach the material using the same proceedure as the abdomen. You do not want the material to be too tightly wound around the thread for a shaggy appearance. Keep the initial wraps tightly up against the abdomen.
7.Wrap a shaggy thorax leaving room behind the eye to attach the wing material.
8. Cut three strips of Medallion Sheeting that are the width of the gape of the hook and are long enough to provide a wing that is twice as long as the hook shank. Align the strips so that they overlap each other. Attach the three strips in the middle on the near side of the shank just behind the eye. Secure with 2-3 tight thread wraps behind the eye of the hook.
9. Bring the forward tag end of the material over the shank so the the material covers the far side of the shank in a tent shape. Secure with 2-3 thread wraps behind the eye.
10. Trim the wings with a “Diamond” shape where the material is about twice the body length. Place a thread wrap under the antennae fibers to lift them up
11. Bring the Antennae over the head and secure with a few thread wraps. Whip Finish. Tease out thorax fibers with a piece of velcro or bodkin.
| Materials
to Order Material, click the link |
|
|---|---|
| Hook | TMC 3769, #12-16 |
| Thread | Uni-Thread 6/0 Rusty Brown |
| Head | Uni-Thread 6/0 Rusty Brown |
| Body | Blend of Hare's Ear and Insect Green Hare's Ear Plus , and Caddis Green Ice Dub mixed with Caddis Green and Olive Antron |
| Thorax | Blend of Hare's Mask , and Pine Squirrel, Brown Olive mixed with Black Mottled Nymph Dubbing and Chocolate Brown Ice Dub |
| Wing | Clear Wing colored with Copic Marker, Dark Dun |
| Antennae | 4 Wood Duck Dyed Mallard Flank Fibers |
Dan LeCount
Scuba Caddis
This pattern was designed by Sierra Guide Dan LeCount for the Truckee area and was featured in Bud Bynack’s “At the Vise” column in the May/June 2013 issue of California Fly Fisher magazine. Dan developed this pattern around 2010 as an effort to come up with something different to interest the heavily angled trout of the Truckee area.
LaFontaine’s Diving Caddis
His inspiration came from Gary LaFontaine’s Diving Caddis. During the summer months, the caddis would primarily dive into the stream during the morning and afternoon hours, emergence didn’t take place until the evening hours. Dan noticed that the wings of diving Caddis had a flat metallic shine that would twinkle as the caddis moved downwards. Through trials, Dan found that multiple layers of Medallion Sheeting for the wings gave the reflective qualities he was looking for. Medallion Sheeting is not available at this time but you can make your own with just some Clear Wing, Copic Markers, and a spray adhesive.
Blended Dubbing and Antron
Most of the construction of the fly pattern is within the dubbing. Dan blends a mix for the abdomen consisting of equal amounts of Hare’s Ear, Insect Green Hare’s Ear Plus, and Caddis Green Ice Dub. Then, he adds sparse amounts of Olive and Caddis Green Antron Yarn cut into 3/4″ pieces and teased out into separate strands. This is blended together for a mottled blend that can be adjusted for color. The thorax portion is a blend of Hare’s mask, Squirrel, Hareline Dubbing (Stonefly), and Chocolate Brown Ice Dubbing. Clear Wings works best for the wings. Use a marking pen such as a Copic marker to colorize the material. Lay out and cut the size you need keeping the widths about the same as the hook gape.
LaFontaine’s Diving Caddis
Gary LaFontaine’s Diving Caddis has a similar Antron body utilizing Sparkle Yarn. Gary was an early proponent of Antron, which was a 3M product for the carpet industry. It has a trilobal cut that offers good reflectivity within the water. The wing consists of Partridge or Grouse fibers that are rolled and tied at the top of the shank. An overwing of Clear Antron was recommended by Gary for the high reflectivity he was trying to mimic from the natural caddis that would carry a bubble with them in the diving process. Clear Antron has been difficult to find and many tiers will substitute with Fl. White Antron Yarn.
A Stiff Hackle
Rooster Hackle is also unique to LaFontaine’s Diving Caddis pattern. Rather than going with a soft hackle, he preferred a stiff rooster hackle that would vibrate through the current. This type of hackling can also be seen on the Hornberg streamer and the Wooly Worm. Gary used many color variations for the body of Rusty Yellow, Olive Green, Amber, Brown Black, Cream, and Rusty Orange. The Rooster Hackle and the underwing would vary in color complementary to the body coloration.
Stalcup’s Bead Head Diving Caddis
The late Shane Stalcup was an early proponent of Medallion Sheeting for the wing. His Bead Head Diving Caddis utilized a copper bead placed a couple eye lengths behind the eye as a weighted thorax. The Medallion Sheeting provides a nice sheath around the bead. This pattern was designed in the late 1990’s and is still marketed today through Solitude Flies.
Variations
Scuba Caddis, Light Dun
| Hook | TMC 3769, #12-16 |
| Thread | Uni-Thread 6/0 Rusty Brown |
| Head | Uni-Thread 6/0 Rusty Brown |
| Body | Blend of Hare's Ear and Insect Green Hare's Ear Plus , and Caddis Green Ice Dub mixed with Caddis Green and Olive Antron |
| Thorax | Blend of Hare's Mask , and Pine Squirrel, Brown Olive mixed with Black Mottled Nymph Dubbing and Chocolate Brown Ice Dub |
| Wing | Clear Wing |
| Antennae | 4 Wood Duck Dyed Mallard Flank Fibers |
LaFontaine’s Diving Caddis, Brown and Green
| Hook | TMC 3769, #12-16 |
| Thread | Uni-Thread 6/0 Rusty Brown |
| Head | Uni-Thread 6/0 Rusty Brown |
| Body | Medium Olive Antron Dubbing |
| Underwing | Dark Brown Partridge Fibers |
| Overwing | Fl. White Antron Filaments |
| Hackle | Brown Rooster Saddle Hackle |
Stalcup’s Bead Head Diving Caddis, Tan
| Hook | TMC 2302, #12-16 |
| Thread | Uni-Thread 6/0 Rusty Brown |
| Underbody and Head | Superfine Dubbing, Tan |
| Body | Turkey Biot, Yellow Tan |
| Thorax | Copper Bead |
| Underwing | Simi Seal, Gray Olive |
| Wing | Clear Wing colored with Copic Marker, Amber |
| Antennae | Microfibetts |
| Legs | Partridge Fibers |