X-Ray Caddis

X-Ray Caddis Pupa, Tan

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Tying Instructions

1. Place a 5/64 copper bead on the hook, followed by a 7/64 Black Bead that is flipped so that the larger cavity encapsulates part of the smaller bead. A few wraps of 0.015″ leadfree wire will fill the other cavity and help snug the beads to the eye.

2. Attach the thread and secure the leadfree wire. Wrap the thread to the bend of the hook.

3. Snip a section of Woodduck dyed Mallard Flank and attach the section by the tips to the top of the hook shank with the dull side up. This will allow the natural barbs to flow back when you pull the feather section over. Greg Vinci uses Gadwall feathers, which are very similar, and colors them with a marker.

4. Attach a piece of 5X Tippet as a ribbing to the bottom of the hook shank. Bring the thread to just behind the wire wraps.

5. Attach a piece of 1/4″ Tan Scudback to the top of the shank with the sides wrapping around the shank. Place a piece of thin pearlescent flashabou on top of the scudback.

6. Secure the scudback and flashabou along the hook shank to the bend of the hook. Keep the material centered on the top of the hook shank with the sides encapsulating the shank.

7. Wrap the flashabou forward the the wire wraps with overlapping wraps and secure at the wire wraps. Trim off the tag end.

8. Bring the scudback over the shank with the sides equally on both sides and secure the material with thread wraps behind the bead. Trim off the tag.

9. Wrap the ribbing with 7-8 equally spaced wraps forward over the scudback. Take care that the ribbing does not fold back the edge of the scudback as it should smoothly encapsulate the shank. This ribbing gives the body it’s segmented appearance. Secure the ribbing behind the bead and trim off the tag.

10. Bring the Mallard Flank over the body and secure with thread wraps behind the bead.

11. Trim off the tag end and apply a coating of Acrylic (Sally’s Hard as Nails) to the Mallard Back.

12. After the Acrylic has throughly dried, attach a section of partridge feather to the top of the shank behind the bead. The partridge feather has it’s tip cut out creating a v-shape to allow most of the fibers to position themselves on both sides of the shank. You can adjust the length of the fibers by pulling on the quill stem and secure with thread wraps. Trim off the tag.

13. Attach 2-3 pieces of Ostrich Herl by the base just behind the bead.

14. Wrap the Herl 2-3 times and secure with thread wraps behind the bead. Whip Finish.

Materials to Order Material, click the link
Hook	TMC 2302 #14-16
Thread	Uni-thread Brown 8/0
Head	5/64 Copper Bead and 7/64 Black Bead
Body	Pearlescent Tinsel
Overbody	1/4 Scud Back, Tan
Thorax	Brown Ostrich Herl
Wings	Partridge Hackle
Shellback	Dyed Mallard Flank, Woodduck with Loons Fly Finish Thin coating
Ribbing	6x Monofilament

Greg Vinci

X-Ray Caddis

Sierran Guide Greg Vinci’s X-Ray Caddis can be tied to two stages, a pupa form or a larvae form of a Rhyacophila Caddis or Green Sedge. These are probably the most prolific caddis found within free-flowing Sierran streams. They are recognized by their deep segmentation with distinct body colorations of green to amber and a dark head.

“Depth Charge” beads

Greg will use a bead or use his “depth charge” beading arrangement with a larger black bead behind a smaller Copper or Gold bead on both of these stages to get these patterns down deeper into the water column. The Black Bead is flipped around so that the cavity will encapsulated part of the forward bead.

Larvae and Pupa forms

The body of an actual caddis larvae and pupa will show a bright glow from the gases it accumulates to rise. These patterns represent that glow significantly. An underbody of Pearlescent Tinsel is wrapped beneath the overlay of a Scudback material with a Monofilament ribbing to provide a translucent body with subtle color changes. A partridge hackle is wrapped in front of the body of the Pupa form to represent emerging wings. On the larvae, a small tuft of White Polypro yarn will represent the gills. A collar of Ostrich completes both stages by representing the dark head of the caddis.

X-Ray Caddis Pupa, Olive

Hook	TMC 2302 #14-16
Thread	Uni-thread Olive 8/0
Head	5/64 Copper Bead and 7/64 Black Bead
Body	Pearlescent Tinsel
Overbody	1/4 Scud Back, Light Olive
Thorax	Brown Ostrich Herl
Wings	Partridge Hackle
Shellback	Dyed Mallard Flank, Olive with Loons Fly Finish Thin coating
Ribbing	6x Monofilament

X-Ray Caddis Larvae, Olive

Hook	TMC 2302 #14-16
Thread	Uni-thread Olive 8/0
Head	5/64 Copper Bead and 7/64 Black Bead
Gills	White Polypro Yarn
Body	Pearlescent Tinsel
Overbody	1/4 Scud Back, Light Olive
Thorax	Brown Ostrich Herl
Shellback	Dyed Mallard Flank, Light Olive with Loons Fly Finish Thin coating
Ribbing	6x Monofilament