FlyTyer Logo
  • Warmwater
  • Coldwater
  • Saltwater
  • Beginner’s Masterclass
  • In This Issue
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
FlyTyer Logo
  • Warmwater
  • Coldwater
  • Saltwater
  • Beginner’s Masterclass
  • In This Issue
  • Subscribe
    • Subscribe Online
    • Digital Subscription
    • Gift Subscription
    • Manage Subscription
    • Newsletter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
0

Coldwater Patterns

QUICK FLY: The Oscar-Mike Caddis


By Paul Shepard


 

Tags: caddis, caddis pupa

The Oscar-Mike Caddis

Hook: 3X-long nymph hook, sizes 12 to 6.
Thread: Brown 6/0 (140 denier), fluorescent green 8/0 (70 denier), and black 8/0 (70 denier).
Underbody: Lead-free wire.
Abdomen: Spanflex, light brown and dark brown.
Rib: Spanflex, black.
Thorax: Fluorescent green thread and black rabbit dubbing.
Legs: Mottled golden straw Brahma hen feather.

Tutorials

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Tutorials

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 1/16
Bend the front one-third of the hook up about 20 degrees. Hooks made from high-carbon steel, such as Patriot, Mustad, and Tiemco, don’t snap when bent.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 2/16
Wrap two layers of .020-inch lead-free wire in the middle of the hook shank to form a tapered underbody. Coat the wire with a drop of superglue.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 3/16
Start the brown thread in front of the second layer of wire. Wrap the thread back over the wire underbody. Return the thread to the tie-in point.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 4/16
Tie a piece of black Spanflex to the top of the underbody. Stretch the Spanflex as you tie it in place. Return the thread to the tie-in point.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 5/16
Tie two pieces of Spanflex—one light brown and one dark brown—to the top of the underbody. Stretch the material as you tie it in place, and then return the thread to the tie-in point. Whip-finish and snip the thread.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 6/16
Start the fluorescent green thread. Cover the front of the wire underbody with thread wraps.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 7/16
Wrap both strands of the brown Spanflex over the underbody. To make the abdomen look more natural, I pull some wraps tight and loosen up on others. This adds realistic-looking dimension to the case. Once you reach the green thread, tie off both strands and clip the excess.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 8/16
Spiral-wrap the black Spanflex up the hook to the hanging thread; as in the previous step, vary the tension as you work. Tie off and clip the excess.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 9/16
Spin your bobbin counterclockwise to flatten the thread. Wrap a tapered thorax representing the caddisfly larva peeking out of its case.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 10/16
Strip the fuzzy fibers from the base of a hen hackle. Clip a V-shaped notch in the tip of the feather.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 11/16
Turn the fly over in your vise. Tie the hackle to the bottom of the fly with the shiny side facing the body. I like the finished legs to equal about twice the width of the hook gap.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 12/16
Spread a coat of thin UV resin over the feather fibers where they meet the body of the fly. Once the resin soaks through the feather fibers, cure it with the light. Whip-finish and snip the thread.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 13/16
Flip the fly right side up and start a spool of brown thread behind the hook eye.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 14/16
Spin a pinch of rabbit dubbing on the thread and wrap a tapered head.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 15/16
Whip-finish and snip the thread. Here is our completed Oscar-Mike Caddis.

Tying the Oscar-Mike Caddis

Step 16/16
Here is the finished fly from the front. The legs, tied using a Brahma hen hackle, look great!

Submit Your Fly

Upload a fly for a chance to win a FREE Fly Tyer subscription.

For internal use only. This will not be displayed to the public.

File name:

File size:

Note: Even if your submission is a video, we need an image to represent your fly on our website.

Note: Supported video sources include YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Full list here.

I would like to receive latest fly tying patterns, stories and videos.

transparent-spacer

Recent Posts

Nontypical Bobbins Worth Considering

black ghost special

Black Ghost Special

black marabou pattern

Black Marabou Muddler

Sing Up For Newsletter
Need more Fly Tyer?

Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest fly tying patterns, stories and videos in your inbox.

Sign Up

You May Also Like

Concrete Carping

Coldwater Patterns

Colorado: Fly Fishing’s Winter Wonderland

Coldwater Patterns

Rocky Mountain Fly Fishing Primer
FlyTyer Logo
  • Warmwater
  • Coldwater
  • Saltwater
  • Beginner’s Masterclass
  • In This Issue
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Subscribe Online
  • Gift Subscription
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Advertising/Media Kits
@flytyermag

© 2021 Fly Tyer. All Rights Reserved.

2018 EXPEDITIONS & GUIDES ANNUAL