Just a lazy Sunday

I watched the 2 games on today and in between I played around a bit.  Here is something I tied.  It's a Caddis Pupa, tied with glass beads as the body and covered with epoxy.  Added to it are hen feather tips tied as wing buds and pheasant tail antenna and ostrich herl as the head.  Super buggy, it looked good in my test tank (the sink).  Now to tie a few more to stash away and hope to remember I  have them when the time comes.

#16 Caddis Green

Tying the Colorado Caddis

I first saw this little bug over on Midgeman's old blog and being the simple little thing it is, I fell in love with it.  After tying and fishing a few of these things, I knew that they would always have a place in my box.


Tying the Colorado Caddis from Juan Ramirez on Vimeo.
The Colorado Caddis, tied in either green or cream, will cover most of your caddis species during the hatch.  This little bug will work well when there is not a hatch too.  Tie it heavy or light, It will work well for you.

Make the Best of It.

When I thought about fishing the Ark today, I imaged a dark, cloudy day, occasionally spitting snow and about 1:00 or so the BWOs would come off and the fish would rise to them in the clear, low water.  Well  today was not quite what I had imaged.  After a few days of warm weather, some of the lower elevation snow was melting and made it's way to the river.  While it was slowly dropping and clearing, it definitely  was not how I had hoped it would be.  The day started clear and cold.  The wind was blowing as it always does this time of year.  The water was higher and off color and the fishing was a bit harder than usual.   After about an hour of fishing I had a terrible thought.  Could a skunk be coming?  I haven't been skunked since leaving the Rio Grande in New Mexico where on any given day it could happen, but on the Arkansas?  Really? I realized this is possible but not for me.  I have invested way too much time in this passion and since this was not the Rio Grande, I didn't have to worry.  The fish would come.  Soon the first fish and second fish were found in a usual spot and on a usual fly, the cream caddis larva.  With the weather hot and cold, snow and bright sunshine, the fishing was still slow.   I kept telling myself to throw on a woolly bugger, as I love to fish them in this type of water and in these conditions.  When I did, it was pretty intense.  Follows right to the rod tip and then they were gone.  I knew I would see lots of fish this way and also assumed I could hook up with 1 out of 4 or 5 follows and I did.  The rest of the day was spent this way all the while I was waiting for the BWOs to start emerging.  I saw about a handful and that was it.  The sun would come out after a few minutes and the bugs would disappear along with the clouds.  I didn't see a single rise all day long and after a good day on the water and some testing of new patterns, I called it a day and headed home.  Some days, no matter how bad, are just plain better than sitting in front of a computer at work.    

Love the old cars in the canyon.  Do they ever move them?

First fish on the bugger.

Lots of these in the water.  

Pretty little things.  

Although I see these the most, I still throw a cream colored one and they eat it.  Hmm, I wonder if they would eat an olive one????

About a size 14

There were only a few of these out today.  I didn't see a single rise today.  

Caddis are out, but not many.

Testing out a new hopper pattern.  It floated well but it needs to be tweaked a bit before summer.

This is a cool pattern that I want to use more on this river.  It's a Jeremy's Arizona Prince.

I eventually hooked up with a few of these.

 Currently my favorite fly on the Ark. My cream caddis larva.

Coming soon to a stream near you....

Caddis!!!

Here are a couple of patterns that I have been playing around with recently.  The Caddis larva is a simple pattern requiring a hook, bead, Wonder Wrap and dubbing, it is simple yet very effective.  

The caddis pupa adds some wing buds and hackle fibers for legs, but it too is simple and effective.  The adult caddis is simply a peacock caddis.  

Caddis Larva

Hook:  Dia Rikki 135 #14-16

Bead:  Black 3/32”

Thread:  Underbody to match body color.  Black for the head.  

Body:  MFC Wonder Wrap or Span-Flex, Flexi-Floss, Ect.   Chartreuse or Cream

Thorax:  Black dubbing.

Caddis Pupa

Hook:  Dia Rikki 135 #14-16

Bead:  Black 3/32”

Thread:  Underbody to match body color.  Black for the head.  

Body:  MFC Wonder Wrap or Span-Flex, Flexi-Floss, Ect.   Chartreuse or Cream.

Thorax:  Black dubbing.

Wing Buds:  Dark Brown Medallion Sheeting.

Legs:  Brown Hen Hackle.

Antenna:  Two Feather Fibers such as Wood Duck.

Peacock Caddis

Hook:  Dia Rikki 320 #14-16

Thread:  Black 8/0

Body:  Peacock Fibers

Wing:  Elk or Deer Hair

Hackle:  Grizzly Neck or Saddle

Tying the Gypsy Caddis

Chad Gauerke Tying Demo 12/19/09 from Juan Ramirez on Vimeo.
Chad spins up one of his Gypsy Caddis in this video from a tying demo at Ghillies Fly shop on 12/19/09. Chad uses a lot of European materials to make some of the buggiest flies out there. They are a real treat to look at as well.