JAB's DSE Caddis

Here's another one of my secret patterns I've decided to share.  Dubbing/Spinning deer hair for a collar or thorax isn't so secret, but overall the materials and techniques in use are different from the normal fur/hair combinations.   DSE's tied in olive and tan are big hits for me.

What does DSE stand for?  It stands for the fishing techniques that can employ when this fly is tied on- Diving Skating Emerger.   Yup, multifaceted!  It can be tied on by itself and cast slightly upstream and fished as an emerger or be skated downstream about 2/3 into the drift.  The angler can also dive it fly under the surface at or near the end of the drift.   I often tie the DSE as a dropper, too. Once the drift is complete and the flies start to rise in the water column I start to get the jitters!  The take is sudden and usually hard.

Tying Notes:

1)  Any fur or synthetic will work for the body.  However, Sybai's Fine Flash or Ice Dubbing in olive or tan mixed with a little Sybai's Fine Flash UV or Pearl Blue Ice Dubbing increases the effectiveness of this pattern 10-fold.  Heavily pick out the body.  I am firmly convinced this and the combination of dubbing with UV give fish a target.  In other words- the caddis bubble.

2)  The ribbing is 2-strands of DMC embroidery thread in a light bronze color.

3)  You have two different choices on how to apply the deer hair.  Dubbing works well, but you will loose overall length of the hair as well as flatten it (bottom picture).  This style makes for a very effective emerger.   However, I usually spin the hair in a dubbing loop and wind forward which gives the fly it's signature ratted and ragged look.  The hair is then trimmed loosely much in the shape of a Muddler in an arc of approximately 200-degree.  The bottom should be also cut loosely, but exposing most of the body is best.   Just be sure to leave a little on the sides.  The final touch is trimming the hair at an angle as you would find on a Goddard Caddis.  This combination of trimming will give the fly a nice tented look when complete and wet.

4)  I have given the deer hair a mottled look with a brown indelible pen.

Materials:

Hook:  Fulling Mill Czech Nymph, Sizes 10-16

Thread:  UTC 70, Brown or Olive

Body:  80% Sybai Fine Flash (color of choice) (Olive pictured) and 20% Sybai Fine Flash UV

Ribbing:  2-strands of DMC embroidery floss #E301

Thorax/Collar:  Deer hair (dark tan pictured and mottled with brown indelible ink) or color of choice.

A dubbed thorax/collar of deer hair