Hi vis caddis?

[phiendWMD]

Can anyone suggest a caddis dry that is very easy to see? I fish EHC if I see caddis in the air. Usually I don't have much trouble locating it. Today I struggled all day to follow it. Is it crazy talk to just put a small piece of chartreuse or white foam behind the head?

 

[duckfoot]

Personally, I like to use a dot of red or white chenille / antron on the top of the hair just as a marker.

The fish can't see it, but I can!

 

[nfrechet]

from the internet

 

[gibsygoldtop]

Had success with using this technique from the clown shoe caddis:

http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/details.cfm?parentID=189

 

[pabrookie94]

Galloups Butch Caddis is very easily seen. But no it's not crazy talk at all to add say some antron or zelon on top behind the head.

 

[jeremymcon]

For fast water when I need a fly that's easy to see and floats well, I essentially tie a parachute version of my poly wing caddis (see the recent swap post for an image). I still tie the typical caddis shaped wing, usually in tan or grey poly yarn (fly tyers dungeon brand). Then I tie a fairly heavy parachute post of white poly yarn, and wrap the hackle around that. Floats like a champ because of all the poly yarn, and the big white post is easy see.

I can't see anything wrong with using some foam though. Or maybe a strip of brightly colored foam as a parachute post!

You can see pabrookie's butch caddis in the swap post too.

 

[tctrout]

Here is a video on the Clown Shoe Caddis:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hUzaZTk7s8[/youtube]

This one is less imitative, but easy to see, especially in fast water:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J3HX51hbs8[/youtube]

TC

 

[phiendWMD]

I don't have vinyl rib. I'll be passing Cabela's tomorrow, so I just checked their site. I don't see it listed. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll have it? If not I might just get some type of yarn and try adding that to an EHC like what nfrechet posted. I should probably have some yarn to tie eggs and sucker spawn (especially since I've seen suckers spawning the last 2 times I was out) anyway.

Tim, while I have your attention, is the splitsville caddis more visible than an EHC? I remember trying to tie them a while ago. I had difficulty with helicoptering the hackle on the thread post and gave up. I might give them a shot again and see if I have better luck this time.

Thank you for the ideas and suggestions everyone.

 

[troutbert]

At Flyfishers Paradise they sell bleached elk hair, which is lighter in color than natural elk or deer hair.

The trout don't seem to care, even wild browns on limestone streams during a hatch of tan caddis.