Caddis Heads

[hooker-of-men]

Just a random thought on the commute today:

I learned how to tie Elk Hair Caddis with a head made of butts that are banded together and then snipped after, as, I think, is traditional. Something like this:

(image from Fly Fish Food)

I never felt I was very good at this method, and I often didn't like how my end results looked. Once I started tying X-Caddis, I found I much preferred both the process and the final product of cutting the butts to length first and then flaring them in:

(image from Flyer Tyer)


I am now inclined to tie all of my caddis (that have this style wing and head) with the flared version. Do others feel anything is lost or gained here? I sorta think the flared head would float higher, which could be a positive or a negative depending on situation. Would the flared head maybe float better/longer? Any other considerations?

 

[JeffK]

My response is there are no absolutes in fly fishing and do what works for you. My best caddis patterns are CDC with the legs coming off the side of the head, which I think the flare does. (note: I like deer hair caddis better and like them better in rough water, but some days when the trout are fussy in pools I find the CDC flies work better). The messier the better in my mind and I am with you. BTW, have also gone the bullet head route and have gone back to flaring. That said, one of the best fly tiers I know does very neat heads with the deer/elk hair wing coming back at a carefully controlled angle. He thinks the proper spread of the wings is the key element

 

[caddisflyer]

Those are fine and good with the heads. Both those will catch fish but I tie mine a lot sparser....less deer hair.

 

[Bamboozle]

Just a random thought on the commute today:

I learned how to tie Elk Hair Caddis with a head made of butts that are banded together and then snipped after...

...Once I started tying X-Caddis, I found I much preferred both the process and the final product of cutting the butts to length first and then flaring them in.

I am now inclined to tie all of my caddis (that have this style wing and head) with the flared version. Do others feel anything is lost or gained here? I sorta think the flared head would float higher, which could be a positive or a negative depending on situation. Would the flared head maybe float better/longer? Any other considerations?

Stick both versions in a bowl of water and see which sinks first...

As for me, I want the highest/longest float on my dry caddis that I can get because they are very often my broken water favorite.

So if that EWC from Fly Fish Food was mine, it would be a tied on a regular straight shanked light wire dry fly hook with hackle just BARELY past the bend.

BTW - I tie regular head EWC but by about the 4th fish, the head looks like the X-Caddis head... 😉

 

[dudemanspecial]

Those are fine and good with the heads. Both those will catch fish but I tie mine a lot sparser....less deer hair.

Same here. A.K. Best said in one of his books that most people put enough hair on their wing for 3 flies, and it should be sparse enough that you should be able to see the body through the hair wing.

I do cut my hair before tying down.

 

[Nocktavius]

Take a look at an actual adult caddisfly-

Whatever gets you closest to that is how you should tie it. Anything else is just a waste of time

 

[Fly-Swatter]

Take a look at an actual adult caddisfly-

Whatever gets you closest to that is how you should tie it. Anything else is just a waste of time

...if you are casting top selective fish. It certainly doesn't hurt to shoot for accuracy. However, different situations may require different ties. Think slow eddy vs. pocket water. I usually tie separate styles for clear distinction: CDC & Elk for slow water and EHC for broken water. YMMV

 

[Fly-Swatter]

I am now inclined to tie all of my caddis (that have this style wing and head) with the flared version. Do others feel anything is lost or gained here? I sorta think the flared head would float higher, which could be a positive or a negative depending on situation. Would the flared head maybe float better/longer? Any other considerations?

First: these are really good-looking flies! Both will hunt.

Second: The function deer or elk hair is flotation. If you want to fish pupae, tie those (ie, LaFontaine sparkle pupae). The X-caddis will act more as a surface film cripple or emerger. The body and shuck ride in or below the film, supported by the hair. Killer!

 

[tomgamber]

Caddis do have big heads. If you are looking to portray that, that's how I would do it.

 

[dryflyguy]

I've never put heads on a caddis - or a may fly imitation for that matter either.
But I dont think it would hurt anything.
And might help with securing the deer hair a bit better, and floatation