Fly Tying Tutorial: X-Caddis

We’re seeing larger bugs hatching out here in Utah, the Mother’s Day Caddis have already been seen on many of our local rivers here, one of my go-to patterns for this time of year would be the X-Caddis. This fly can be really effective during this hatch but can be tied in various colors to represent the various caddis species found across the nation. It’s a really simple tie and is a great way to get familiar tying with deer hair.

X-Caddis Recipe

• Hook: TMC 100 sz 20- 16
• Thread: Brown 6/0
• Shuck: Brown Sparkle Emerger Yarn
• Body: Olive or Dark Olive Dubbing
• Wing: Premium Deer Hair

Step 1: Wrap your thread around the hook shank creating a nice baselayer, wrap down to the barb and back to the eye about two times, finishing at the barb.

Step 2: Pull or cut off a few strands of sparkle emerger yarn, tie in the strands at the back of the hook with a few wraps. Then I like to fold it over and wrap back down to the back of the hook shank.

Step 3: Next twist on a few pinches of olive dubbing onto the thread, apply small amounts at a time, this will help avoid making the fly too bulky. Once applied, wrap the thread around the hook shank about ¾” the way up, creating a tapered body.

Step 4: Cut off a pinch of deer hair. Then measure the hair, about a full hook shank from the tips, and tie in the fibers tightly, trying to keep them on top of the fly.

Step 5: Once secure finish off the fly with a whip finish and apply head cement if desired.

Stay tuned for more fly patterns from the Fishwest staff, if you have any questions or patterns you’d like to request feel free to contact us at support@fishwest.com