Detached Body Caddis Emerger
Hook – Partridge SLD size 12 – 16
Thread – Unithread 8/0 – colour to match body
Body – detached type (either using prepared poly yarn, chenille or your own favourite
design). The colour to match the naturals such as pale yellow, green or tan)
Legs/outriggers – dark micro flash
Sighter Wing – poly yarn/aero wing (in either white or pink)
Thorax – tan CDC (dubbed)
Tying sequence for this fly is:
1. Start thread just behind the hook eye and work neatly down the hook.
2. About 1/3rd of the way down the hook lift in the detached body and secure with
thread back to the start point behind the hook eye (cut off the waste body pointing
over the eye).
3. Work the thread back to the detached body.
4. Lift in, and tie in position, the micro flash for outrigger legs. When secure work
the thread to about halfway back to the hook eye.
5. Lift in poly yarn sighter and tie “fore & aft” (not across hook).
6. When secure work thread back to the start of the body, roughly dub thread with
bits of cdc then wind this either side of the wing.
7. Tie off behind eye.
8. Pull out bits of cdc for a leggy effect and cut wing to give two tufts, these are your
sighters when using the fly. For artistic effect you can also mark the top side of
the detached body with a pantone pen to give a segmented effect.
Attributes of fly plus notes
- Entirely my own pattern but the prepared poly yarn style of detached body is based on the work of Matti Huitila, a great angler from Finland who specializes in caddis imitations. However, other types of detached bodies can also be used.
- A generic pattern to represent any of our caddis species that either emerge at the surface or swim just under it as they make their way to shore to emerge on land, just vary the size and colours to best match the caddis you find on your waters.
- Tied short, with plenty of hook under the meniscus, makes this a great hooker.
- The sighter wing colour is key to your visibility of this fly, just put on the one that contrasts best with water reflections and surface colour.
- The cdc is not there to float the fly but to give the fly an impression of “life”
- Lightly gink the body and wing but avoid the cdc and metal of the hook at all costs!
- Use either as single fly on a fine tippet or as part of a duo rig.
- Like other caddis patterns it can pay to just twitch the fly occasionally as it drifts downstream.
© Stuart M Crofts 2010
