JAB's Straggle Caddis

Notes:

(1)  My Straggle Caddis is right up there with the Rock Bottom pattern (sacrificial and quick to tie). However, I truly feel this one knocks it out of the park when it comes to a highly visible fly pattern.  I often tie just one fly above and fish in a traditional upstream presentation.  Perhaps the fish take it as a cased caddis pattern.
(2)  The Micro Straggle combines a black core with gold and ultra violet mylar.  When coupled with a dark thorax/collar this fly becomes rather buggy.
(3)  Keep a few in your fly box with different bead weights.  Try to keep the fly bouncing along the bottom at the same speed as the current.
(4)  The thorax/collar should be dubbed a little thicker than normal.  Once complete it is roughed up and brushed rearward over the body.

Material:

Hook:  Hanak H400BL, Sizes 8 -12  (Size 12 pictured)
Bead:  Size appropriate black tungsten (3.5mm pictured)
Thread:  UTC 70 black
Tail:  Glo-brite, chartruese tied short and thick (3-strands)
Body:  Flybox, Synergy Micro Straggle, black/UV gold
Thorax/Collar:   Hend's Spectra Dubbing, #45 (Black Peacock)

Bush Pilot

Notes:

(1)  Awesome fly!  Extra buggy with a hint of pink "bite me" in the tail!
(2)  The original calls for angora goat, but I replace with opossum or seal tied/spun loosely.
(3)  The black version is tied with black hackle fibers and a black thorax.
(4)  I've reverse the tying order of the tail.  Doing so alleviates the floss burrowing in the tail.

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H400BL, sizes 12-16 (size 14 pictured)
Bead:  Silver tungsten, size appropriate (3.0mm picture)
Tail:   (1) Coq de Leon, light speckled (2) Hot pink floss (Globrite #2) thinned and tied on top
Body:  Peacock quill (natural color) lightly covered with UV resin.
Thorax/Collar:  Opossum dyed dark brown spun loosely in dubbing loop.

Parrott's Blue Devil

Notes:

(1) Steve Parrott of the Blue Quill Angler in Evergreen, Colorado has devised a super simple competition style depth charge!  For many years blue has been a "go to" color during the winter months for me.  The Blue Devil definitely warrants a spot on this blog!

(2)  The bead is a true silver which really reflects the light.  If you find fish in your area shying away from the brilliance try tying a few with a silver nickel bead.  These beads will absorb quite a bit of ambient light and they are not nearly as bright.

(3)  The tail is guinea hen.  Although Steve doesn't specify any particular vermiculation I prefer the small, heavily spotted back feathers (as pictured).

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H450BL. Sizes 12-14 (Size 12 pictured)

Bead:  Size appropriate to hook.  (3.5mm pictured)

Thread:  UTC 70, Black

Tail:  Guinea hen, natural

Body:  Thread built taper and coated with UV resin after ribbing is in place.

Ribbing:  Flashabou, blue or blue holographic 

Thorax:  Arizona Synthetic Dubbing, black, slightly spiky.

JAB's Nondescript

Notes:

(1)  My Nondescript comes from the combination of a few great patterns (see Filoplume Soft Hackle as an example) as well as materials that would normally find the circular file (trash can).   It was originally tied a heavy wire 3XL nymph hook and over-sized gold or black bead.  I have also tweaked the hare's ear dubbing which has become a standard on many of my patterns where hare's ear is called for.

(2)  I primarily tied the Nondescript in larger sizes (8 -12) to use as a searching pattern on unfamiliar waters.  However, it has become one of a few patterns that I tie on to really pound the rocks during the early season or high water

(3)  Unlike the spiky effect of hare's ear on GRHE Filoplume Prince I have removed most of the guard hairs during the dubbing process to allow the filoplume to breath in the water without sticking to the body.

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H400BL, Sizes 8 - 14 (Size 12 pictured.)

Bead:  Slotted gold tungsten size appropriate to hook (3.5mm pictured)

Thread:  UTC 70, chartreuse

Tail:  Ruffed grouse tail feather, 6 to 10 fibers

Butt:  Thread wrapped slightly into the bend of hook

Body:   A mixture of 65% European hare's ear, 15% LaFontaine's original Antron Sparkle Yarn  (tan), 10% clear Antron and 10% Sybai Super Fine Ultravoilet
Ribbing:  Lagartun x-small gold oval

Collar/Thorax:  Grouse (or partridge) filoplume aftershank  (Description and tying guidance)

JAB's Stone Jig

Notes:

(1)  My Stone Jig was converted from a similar, simple stonefly pattern I tied some years ago.  You'll find despite the small size fish react very well to this pattern.   If your waters contain winter stones give this on a go!  This is a "go to" if you fish the Upper Sacramento River!

(2)  Colors can be changed out to match the predominant species in your area.

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H450BL, Sizes 12 - 16

Bead:  Size appropriate tungsten, black

Thread:  UTC 70 black.  Finishing wraps at collar is UTC 70, fl. orange

Tail:  Goose biots, black

Body:  2-strands of DMC metallic embroidery thread (#E310) and 2-strands of Midge Flash black spun to form a tight cord.

Collar:  Awesome 'Possum dyed back

Legs/Horns:  Goose biots, black

Orange #2

Note:

Inspiration for this fly, if you're old enough to remember, Rube Cross's Carrot Nymph.  Still good today as it was many years ago!

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H400BL, Sizes 12-16
Bead:  Size appropriate metallic orange tungsten
Thread:  UTC 70, black
Tail:  Black hackle fibers
Body:  Single strand of DMC embroidery thread (#721) and 2-strands of cooper Holoshimmer twisted tight.
Thorax:  Awesome 'Possum, dyed black

Orange #1

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H400BL Sizes 12-16
Bead:  Size appropriate metallic orange, tungsten
Thread:  UTC 70, brown
Tail:  Lemon wood duck
Body:  Stripped peacock quill dyed ginger and lightly coated with UV resin
Thorax:  Awesome 'Possum, dyes dark brown

Rotten Cotton Candy

Notes:

(1)  This is a good early/late spring or late winter pattern here is\n California.   I believe glossoma caddis may cause a trigger a reaction in trout to pink as pinkish hues are commonly found on the pupa in the Sierras. It may also be in response to eggs at the tail end of the spawn.
(2)  Has seen decent results as a last resort fly in late evenings.

Material:

Hook:  Hanak H450BL, Sizes 12 - 16 (Size 12 pictured)
Bead:  Metallic pink tungsten size appropriate (3.5mm pictured)
Thread:  UTC70, black
Tail:  Hot pink and black silk floss, 1/2 strand each
Body:  UTC70 black coated with UV resign
Ribbing:  Holoshimmer, pink
Thorax/collar:  Squirrel dyed black

JAB's Rock Bottom

Notes:

(1)  Here is California it is unlawful to utilize the drop shot method of nymphing.  To get around this we simply tie on a sacrificial jig and run two additional flies above.
(2)  These flies should be extremely quick and simple to tie.  The idea get to the bottom quickly and present a tandem team of nymphs in the zone.  You will lose jigs so don't worry about looks!
(3)  I have seen some the of ugliest flies yet they do catch fish occasionally.  Again, the point of this fly is to get the other fly(ies) in the zone.  Some anglers here call them "Zit flies" because you "pop a few off" the end of the leader.
(4)  My secret has been tying them buggy in natural colors yet abstract with bright tails or collars.
(5)  When resorting to tactic like this... we've hit "Rock Bottom."

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H450BL, Sizes 10-14 (Size 12 pictured)
Bead:  Size appropriate black tungsten
Thread:  UTC 70 Black
Tail:  Goose biots, chartreuse
Body:  Squirrel dye black and mixed with pearl blue Ice Dubbing or Fine Flash ultraviolet spun in a dubbing loop.

PT Barnum

Notes:

(1)  This has been a good early morning searching pattern for me.  I typically run a olive or olive brown small midge pupa as a dropper in conjunction with this fly.   If the fish are on the smaller midge they are probably feeding on BWO emergers and it's time to change your jig head to a different pattern.  Also switch to a BWO nymph to confirm.

(2)  The bead is interchangeable with a black nickel or mocha color.  I do not tie this with a copper bead.

(3)  Try tying this pattern with different thorax colors.  Copper, peacock and orange synthetics are two great choices I carry in the fly fly box.

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H450BK, Sizes 14 and 16

Bead:  Size appropriate to hook.  You can go one bead size larger if needed.

Thread:  12/0 Benecchi.  Color to match thorax.  

Tail:  Pheasant tail fibers, 4 to 6.

Body:  Pheasant tail fibers.  A thin body of 4 or 5 fibers.

Ribbing:  Hends .09mm, copper

Thorax:  Hend's Spectra Dubbing, #35 Rusty Brown

Green Manalishi

Notes:

(1)  Awesome attractor pattern in rivers with a large population of hydropsyche caddis despite chartreuse tail and dark/deep green body.

(2)  Fish in faster riffles and runs.  Sizes 14 and 16 are standard.  Carry this pattern with the bead one size larger than normal for spring runoff fishing.

(3)  Body can be wrapped thick or thin.   A thin body seems to be more productive. 

(4)  The fly is started and tail is tied in with wraps of Glitter Thread.  Apply one or two half hitches upon completion of body.  Once body is coated/cured with UV resin olive thread is started directly behind bead.  Use caution around tail area.  The UV resin will travel if it comes in to contact with tail.

(5)  Tie tail a little longer than normal.  You may have to cut it back slightly streamside to avoid material from wrapping around hook shank.

(6)  Thorax is a mixture of three materials.  Pick out heavily once fly is complete.  This is a beautiful color effect!

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H400BL Sizes 12-16

Bead:  Slotted Tungsten, Nickle Black (size appropriate)

Thread:  12/0 Benecchi, Olive

Tail:  Glo-Brite #11 Chartreuse

Body:  Glitter Thread,  #29 Dark Green

Thorax:  50% Ice Dubbing Olive, 25% Sybai Fine Flash Dark Brown Peacock, 25% Sybai Fine Flash UV

Czech Jig #3

Notes:

(1)  Tied in black as well as shades of olive and/or brown.
(2)  Keep the body thin and well segmented.
(3)  Very simple tie and excellent mayfly nymph imitation in faster water
(4)  Smaller imitations are tied on standard nymph hooks

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H450BL Size 14-16.  (Size 16 shown)
Bead:  2.5mm slotted tungsten, copper
Threaad/Body:  10/0 or 12/0 Benecchi, color of choice
Tail:  Coq de Leon, olive tailing fibers
Rib:  Hend;s .09mm, copper
Thorax:  Hend's Spectra Dubbing, #335 dark brown peacock

Czech Jig #2

Notes:

(1)  When wrapping the body after the tail is in place try to keep the body thin with even wraps of thread.
(2)  Wrap Hend's Body Quill to the end of the body, but leave a same "hot butt" section.
(3)  Thread color(s) can be changed to meet your needs.  Golden stones, Yellow Sally's and brown stones.
(4)  Mix a little (clear) UV dubbing to your thorax
(5)  The black and orange combination works wonders with populations of black stoneflies.

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak H45OBL (Sizes 10-16) (Size 14 Shown)
Bead:  3.3mm Slotted Tungsten, Black Nickel (Allen Fly Fishing)
Thread:  UTC 70 Fl. Orange
Tail:  Goose Biots, Black
Body:  Hend's Body Quill, Black wrapped over thread.
Thorax:  Dyed black squirrel mixed clear Antron and Sybai UV dubbing

Czech Jig #1

Notes:

(1)  Color of the tail is interchangeable.  Due to their brightness I refer to these tails as "tickle tails." Try red, chartreuse, fluorescent orange, etc.  Keep them on the short side.  Longer tails often result in short or missed strikes.

(2)  The shaggier the body - the better!

(3)  Keep the hackle on the light side.  Just one or two turns is plenty.

(4)  This pattern really shines with plenty of cased caddis in the river.  I really like the hot orange tail in the late summer/early fall coinciding with October caddis activity.  Chartreuse is good year around.

(5)  If you're not losing flies, you're not fishing deep enough!  Tie them by the dozen.

Materials:

Hook:  Hanak 450BL, Sizes 10-16.  (Size 16 pictured)
Bead:   2.0mm Slotted Tungsten, Copper
Thread:  10/0 Veevus, Brown
Tail:  Glo-Brite Floss,  #6 Hot Orange
Body:  Ice Dubbing, Peacock
Hackle:  Hen, Brown