The Caddis Fly: Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

In this video, Greg ties a Jigged Prince Variant nymph. Effective anywhere trout may live. “I’d use this fly as an attractor or for prospecting when all else fails.”

He recommends tying it in sizes 12-16 with a 60° bend jig hook and a slotted tungsten bead tied in different colors combinations for different fisheries and to create contrast with the fly as it drifts through the water column getting the attention of the trout. He also ties it in reverse style or upside-down (goose biots) because of the nature of the jig hook.

Use of a Gamakatsu J20 jigged hook or something similar with a 60° hook-eye bend with a slotted-tungsten bead is key to these flies “nymphing” effectively. The hook faces upwards during your drift lessening your chances of snagging on the bottom and you want to fish these types of flies deep and often times near the bottom. Tungsten beads give you the weight necessary to get the fly in the zone as quickly as possible and the weight to feel it on your rod for ultimate sensitivity.

Greg uses this fly on his European-nymphing setup as a terminal fly or a dropper, but you could also use it under an indicator or under a dry fly for a dry-dropper setup.

Jigged Prince Variant

Hook – Gamakatsu J20 # 10-16
Thread – Veevus 6/0 olive, brown or similar
Hackle – UV Select CDC Olive
Tail – Olive Goose Biot
Body – Veevus Holo Tinsel Red/brown
Rib – Brassie copper brown ultra wire (optional)
UV Cure – Deer Creek Diamond Fine Flex
Wing case – White Goose Biot
Thorax/head – Black Ice Dub
Bead – Copper slotted tungsten 1/8 or 5/32

Here is part two in our video serious on Jigged Nymphs. The additional videos discuss tools and materials related to tying successful jig style fly patterns. Enjoy!

Jay has been diving deep into tying “Jig Style” nymphs. In this video he gives some basic tips to help you tie them. More tips to come in following posts.

In this video, Greg ties a very simple yet effective Jigged Green Caddis fly, which could be used in freshwater fisheries throughout the world. Any trout fisherman should have a selection of caddis nymphs available in their fly box.

He recommends tying it in sizes 14-18 with a 60° bend jig hook and a slotted tungsten bead in variations of chartreuse, green, and olive.

Use of a Gamakatsu J20 jigged hook or something similar with a 60° hook-eye bend with a slotted-tungsten bead is key to these flies “nymphing” effectively. The hook faces upwards during your drift lessening your chances of snagging on the bottom and you want to fish these types of flies deep and often times near the bottom. Tungsten beads give you the weight necessary to get the fly in the zone as quickly as possible and the weight to feel it on your rod for ultimate sensitivity.

Greg uses this fly on his European-nymphing setup as a terminal fly or a dropper, but you could also use it under an indicator or under a dry fly for a dry-dropper setup.

Jigged Green Caddis

Hook – Gamakatsu J20 # 10-16
Thread – Veevus 6/0 Black
Hackle – UV Select CDC Olive
Tail – none
Body – Whitlock SLF caddis green
Rib – Brassie copper chartreuse ultra wire (optional)
Wing case – none
Thorax/head – Black Ice Dub
Bead – Black slotted tungsten 1/8 or 5/32

In this video, Greg ties a simple Jigged Hare’s Ear European Style Nymph Pattern. Simple, yet proven again and again for trout species around the world.
He recommends tying it in sizes 12-18 with a 60° bend jig hook and a slotted tungsten bead in variations of brown, tan, and olive.

“Sensitivity is key while fishing Euro style nymphs with a nymphing rod.” Light rod tips and heavier flies allow the Euro fisherman to gain that sensitivity and feel the slightest grabs. Greg uses an Echo Shadow II 2100-4 with an Airflo European Nymph Fly Line and a Euro-Style leader setup while trout fishing. He uses a tungsten beaded fly for his terminal fly (bottom fly) and dropper (no weight or slightly weighted) off the tag end above the terminal fly. You could also drift these jig flies under an indicator, or a dry fly for a dry-dropper setup on rivers and lakes. “I would use these on many if not almost all still-water fisheries too,” Greg says.

Use of a Gamakatsu J20 jigged hook or something similar with a 60° hook-eye bend with a slotted-tungsten bead is key to these flies “nymphing” effectively. The hook faces upwards during your drift lessening your chances of snagging on the bottom and you want to fish these types of flies deep and often times near the bottom. Tungsten beads give you the weight necessary to get the fly in the zone as quickly as possible and the weight to feel it on your rod for ultimate sensitivity.

Jigged Hare’s Ear

Hook – Gamakatsu J20 # 10-16
Thread – Veevus 6/0 brown or similar
Hackle – UV Select CDC Dun
Tail – Pheasant Tail
Body – Whitlock SLF Medium Hare’s Ear
Rib – Brassie copper brown ultra wire
Wing case – Natural Pheasant Tail
Thorax/head – Whitlock SLF Dark Brown
Bead – Gold slotted tungsten 1/8 or 5/32

The Balanced Leech and Balanced Minnow fly pattern is a new one for me and I’ve had fun working on these flies lately.

One of my key issues has been finding out which pins do and do not work for these flies.

Generally, the pins I found in the jewelry making department do not work – because they are too flexible and will bend when any pressure is applied, as in if you ever catch a fish!

The two types of pins that seem to work well are

1. Dressmaker Pins 20-gauge steel.
2. Escutcheon Pins 18 gauge brass plated steel

I purchased the first pin from the sewing department of a local store and the second pin from my local hardware store.

Overall, the 18 gauge is about the heaviest I would want to use and it works for larger flies on size 4 and bigger hooks with larger beads.

The dress maker pins in 20-gauge work great on size 6 and smaller hooks with smaller beads

There may be other options in addition to these but I wish someone had told me this much before I bought five kinds of jewelry pins to experiment with.

Have fun and I hope this helps.

JN

We published the Balanced Leech video earlier this year and did not include the “pins selection” video. In this post both videos are available.

In this fly tying tutorial Jay shows us how to tie a Tiger Dad Trout Tube Streamer and by accident without a Rabbit Strip. We will have another video showing this same fly with the Rabbit Strip added in. This fly is best fished on the swing.

Jay’s Tiger Dad Trout Tube Streamer (w/o Rabbit Strip)

Nanotube Sink 2 or 4
Pro Hook Guide Black and Pro Sport Flexineedle
Drop Weight Small or Medium
Veevus 10/0 Black
Cement: Loc Tite Brush on
Body: Speckled Chenille Copper/Black
Body: Medium UV Polar Chenille Copper
EP Foxy Brush Olive/Brown
Ice Wing: Copper
Red Ultrasonic Disc
Gamakatsu Glo Bug Hook #6

In this video Jay ties us a Bulltrout Jig, The Sandy Chub. This is a terrific Bull trout pattern that will work for a variety of freshwater and estuary species. You can fish this on the swing or dead drift it under an indicator. Happy tying!

The Sandy Chub

Umpqua S506H Jig #4
Thread: Danville’s 210D Gray
Eyes: Balz Eyes or Double Pupil Medium
Tail: Rabbit Strip Sandy Variant
Brush: EP Craft Fur 3” Sand/Brown
Legs: Grizzly Barred Rubber Legs Fine white
Body: Shrimp Dub Brush 2” Tan
Ice Wing: Gold

In this video, Jay ties a Trout Clouser Jig “Copper Crawdad” using an Umpqua 60 degree jig hook. This fly can be cast and stripped, swung, or fished an under indicator. This is a great fly for fishing Rainbow Trout, Brown trout, Bull Trout and Bass.

Jay’s Trout Clouser Jig Copper Crawdad

Hook: Umpqua S506H Jig #2
Thread: Danville’s 210D Brown
Cement: Loc-Tite Brush On
Eyes: Ballz Eyes Medium
Tail: UV Orange Bucktail
Body: Senyo’s Fusion Dub Crusty Nail
Wing: UV Orange Bucktail
Flash: Angel Hair Ice Wing Copper
Collar: EP Foxy Brush 3.0” (olive/brown)