This is another nice pattern in our latest series of tying videos focussing on Soft Hackle trout and steelhead flies. Greenish caddis flies are ubiquitous across the Western United States and the planet earth. This is based on a sweeping statement yet to be verified but possibly true. The key issue here is the great versatility of this family of green soft hackles. Take s look at the photo of this fly and the video. This depicts a simple slim green soft hackle with nicely webbed grizzly hackle from a Metz Hen Cape.
Switch things up with this fly by tying it with Partridge hackle twice as wide as the hackle shown in this video and you will have a fly with more wiggle and a bolder presence. Tie and fish it as a size #10 with a full hackle of Caddis Green Partridge or Whiting Brahma Hen Saddle to imitate the Green McKenzie Caddis – and hang on.
If you fish the Deschutes anytime from right now through September, you are likely to find Caddis flies rocking the river. Tie yourself a variation of this soft hackle using a hook in the #14 – #16 range, make the body green, and dub a modest size head of black Hareline Ice Dub – making the perfect impression of an emerging green caddis fly. These little green caddis can make up for a whole day of fishy inactivity by enticing many fine wild Deschutes Rainbow to your tippet at last light.
Green McKenzie Soft Hackle
Hook: TMC 3761 #10-16
Thread: Pearsalls Gossamer Silk Olive Green
Body: Same as thread
Thorax: Peacock Herl
Hackle: Metz Grizzly Hen Cape
Head: Silk Olive Green Thread
This was the fly on the Bellinger-Hayden run Monday. 80 degrees, cloudy, but no bug hatching. As soon as we switched to the soft hackle, the fish banged them.