How to Tie the Beaded Caddis Nymph

This is an easy tie that catches fish on waters holding caddis larvae.  It isn't my pattern, I found it on a website that sells flies.  I spotted the overbody - invented by Gary LaFontaine - and thought I would tie up a few. 

Recipe:

Hook: Tiemco 2487 #12
Thread: Olive 6/0
Body: Craft beads (I use glass)
Overbody: Tan sparkle yarn
Head: Nickle colored tungsten

Spider Wet Fly & Caddis Larvae - Revisited

After looking at my previous spider wet fly post, I sat down to the fly tying table to refine the design.  The previous patterns still work well where I fish, but I wanted something that was an attractor nymph.  The following flies are not meant to imitate any particular aquatic insect.  My hope is that they will look pretty close to lots of trout food.

How to dye feathers for fly tying

I have read that feathers can be dyed at home using the sugar-less Kool-aid packets or just food coloring.  I was at the store today and noticed that the egg dying kits are available for Easter.  This got me thinking...

Brassie - BH (Bead Headed) Brassie - tied by: Jason

A very simple, yet highly functional pattern.  If you are looking for an easy pattern to start with: look no further.  Also, please note that the standard Brassie pattern doesn't have a bead head.

Recipe

#14 Tiemco 2457
Small copper wire
Peacock  Herl
X-Small copper bead
6/0 Black UNI thread 

The Mess - fly pattern by: Gary LaFontaine - tied by: Jason Barios

Recipe

Hook: Tiemco 100BL #12
Thread: Ultra Thread - Brown Olive
Overbody: Closed cell foam
Body: Fine olive  dubbing
Hackle: Mallard Flank - Natural
Tail: Brown hackle fibers

Surface film floater - The Mess

Midge Adult Photos - Castaic Lagoon, CA

I caught this little bugger back in November 2007 at Castaic Lagoon.  There is a shot of this midge near a quarter for sizing.

Fly Tying - Wet Fly - Spider Samples

Here are some samples of my attempts at different variations of a spider wet fly.  I usually fish them with a slow, twitching retrieve either on moving or still water.  I have been very successful with these flies on Piru Creek for trout, and Castaic Lagoon for Bass.

How to tie the Emergent Sparkle Pupa

Recipe:

Hook size: #14
Body: Tan sparkle scrap from over-body
Overbody: Tan sparkle yarn
Wing: Short, fine Deer hair
Thread: Brown olive 8/0
Thorax:  Brown  dubbing

Fly Tying Organization Tip #1 

Grab some of these up at Walmart for about $2 each...

Piru Creek Caddis Larva - Hydropsychidae

 I caught this nymph - foul hooked it really - while fishing Piru Creek.

These are some close-ups I took stream-side of the Caddis Larva or Hydropsychidae.

Grasshopper - Acrididae - photos

This young grasshopper was found right outside my home in So. California.  It seemed to be pretty banged up from the Santa Anna winds that were blowing strongly, so I took it in and photographed it for a hopper tying guideline.

From what I have read, trout will rise fearlessly to grab hoppers on the surface since the calories burnt:gained ratio is much in their favor.  I have had some success with hopper patterns in the past, and the thing that always surprises me is the willingness of all sizes of trout that will take them.

Sandcrab fly imitation 

This fly was created to imitate a Surf Perch's favorite meal; a sand crab.  It is an original design.  I call it the SP Sandcrab.  SP could stand for Surf Perch... but really I named it for my daughter - Samantha Paige.