Micro Caddis Patterns Hackle vs. Fur or both?
above photo: #20 Adult biot wing caddis with a somewhat sparse hair and hackle thorax
CDC, Squirrel, muskrat, and two turns of dun hackle.
(click on any of these images to enlarge)
Micro patterns by definition are basically fly patterns tied uniformly smaller, scaled down models of their larger counterparts. These patterns target fish that are very selective, typically in spooky low clear water. These patterns are often used in scenarios where it is of utmost importance for a very delicate presentation. For example given the average size of a caddis pattern, probably somewhere between a #14 or #16, scaling it down to a #20 or smaller can pay great dividends when considering a selective feeder in 12" of clear water. Cast a #14 in its cone of vision and all bets are off. Again I'm not saying this is a given but you only have one shot, I heir on the side of caution. If you walk off the side of a curb into traffic you may get across the street a few times but eventually your going to get hit. Thats why we use signals the same holds true for fly fishing scenarios. The signals when approaching a dead calm clear drift are all there. Be quiet as hell, put on 6x tippet, tie on a small delicate nymph or dry and don't beat up the water like sugar induced toddler in a kiddy pool. As Darrel Martin states “adapt and transform” as difficult river situations present themselves.
What size hook is considered a “mirco pattern” size? Well in Darrel Martins book Micropatterns he often refers to #18's and smaller but over the years I'd have to say I start at a #20 and smaller. His book was published in 1994 and hooks have evolved since then quite a bit especially considering all of the selections of short shank wide gap hooks out there, it puts a new spin on things. There are no rules in fly fishing or fly tying the creative endeavor is what makes it interesting. That being said the fish remain the the judge and jury! So in many ways you have to play by their rules. Their rules take into account millions of years of evolution and instincts so you must be on your A game with a selective 24" Brown.
Again, you may only have one shot.
above photo: Often an over hackled fly looks a bit like a bottle brush so by combining fur and sparse hackle you get both an impressionistic fly and the stability of a traditional hackle collar.
(click on any of these images to enlarge)
One of my subscribers commented on my Part 1 post on micro patterns and asked if I tied patterns using both hair and hackle. The answer is most definitely! Do you see a lot of flys out there with both hackle and fur thoraxes be it caddis or mayfly? The answer to this question is usually not. CDC for example is not typically mixed in the same thorax proximity in tandem with a wound hackle collar. Its usually one or the other, the above two photos do however show how CDC, fur and hair (muskrat and squirrel), and dun hackle can coexist on a single pattern (thorax) in a sparse presentation. My best micro patterns are gestural impressionistic flys. The silhouettes are not symmetrical like a traditional hackled fly, there are a few hackle fibers squirting out here and there as well as squirrel, beaver, CDC fibers, and beaver guard hairs. Using a split thread or dubbing loop collars is a great way to achieve this “fur and fiber soup” as I like to call it but those are not your only options.
The size 20 pattern seen here above and below uses a split thread of UTC Ultra 70 followed by two turns of hackle then another micro segment of split thread fur dubbing wound into the hackle fibers squashing the fibers in different directions. The late great Vincent Marinaro created thorax flys in a somewhat similar way using his “X” hackling techniques. Check out his book A Modern Dry Fly Code a great read for the thorax nerds like myself especially when it comes to mayfly dressings. Dubbing loops can often bulk up a size 20 very quickly so stick with split thread techniques and tread lightly, little pinches of ingredients go a long way! Experiment with the dubbing mixtures paired with hackle, the sky is the limit.
(click on any of these images to enlarge)
check out my “shop notes” section www.cjbovarods.com for 23 years of blogging about dying feathers, bleaching, dying quills, and biots.
Thanks for letting me share!
~Clint Bova
