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3. Brachycentrus Pupal Behavior, Page 2

Halo Pupa

Size: 12 - 18

Hook: Tiemco 3761 or 9300

Thread: Uni 8/0 use matching color for bodies of lighter versions.

Shell (opt): turkey tail quill

Rib: Monocord color to compliment, doubled in the larger sizes (chartreuse on the grannom)

Body: Buggy Nymph brand or Scintilla blends according to version (brownish olive on the grannom)

Thorax: Buggy Nymph or Scintilla blend used for body mixed half with brown

Legs: 6 game hen or pheasant tail fibers, colored to compliment

Swimmerettes: knotted pheasant tail fibers, colored to compliment

Wing stubs: Swiss straw

Collar: antron yarn (Aunt Lydia’s)

Antennae: stiff guard hairs or microfibbetts

Head: mixed dubbing to match natural or twisted pheasant tail fibers

Notes: Materials are listed in order of their application. The optional shell is used for two-toned pupa like Grannom. Overall, the best legs and swimmerettes come from a golden pheasant tail. Its golden brown color matches most pupal legs perfectly. The legs are tied beard style body length and the swimmerettes are tied in one to a side but substantially longer so that when pulled straight extend well beyond the bend. The Swiss straw should be spread open folded linearly (doubled over) and trimmed to size smaller than hook gap width (a one inch section will give you enough to work with). Now fold it in the middle and tie this in over the top of the hook shank and over the top of the hanging thread. Moisten the tip of the looped straw to soften it for easier compression at the tie in point. Pull them down, secure with 4 or 5 wraps and trim both underneath to the right length at the same time. The collar is made by cutting a section of yarn to the right length and thinned to the right amount. Create a dubbing loop and stick the fibers in at a right angle and spread out about an inch or so. Lightly spin, making sure the fibers stay horizontal without the tips getting trapped. Wrap a couple of turns stroking the fibers between wraps, like you would a soft hackle. The antennae perform a very important function by helping the fly to ride upright. They act like outriggers. The tie in position is very important. They should be tied in long and identically mounted up and out to the sides. The important caddis have fairly blocky heads with a very noticeable thin neck separating it from the thoracic structures. Tie a blocky head and whip finish in the neck area. The pheasant tail fibers are rubbed with head cement and twisted with the thread before wrapping. This makes for a very durable and realistic insect head with tiny little spikes on it, much like the natural. The number of fibers depends on fly size. Dubbing works fine as well, though not as long lasting. The example shown matches our Mother's Day Caddis out here. Vary them to match your bugs.

Reversed Peeker Nymph - Grannom

Size: 10 - 14

Hook: Tiemco 3761

Bead: (Opt.): Black brass sized to case of natural

Weight: lead or substitute just small enough to shove into bead, full body wrap

Thread: Uni 8/0, color unimportant

Body: anton yarn plies, melted at tip

Legs; Emu barbules just up the feather from the spikey ones, (those are reserved for the bigger October caddis)

Case: fine deer hair (I prefer coastal) spun in a dubbing loop and trimmed square with a slight taper towards the bead.

Notes: Materials are listed in order of their application. Start wrapping the hair at the back of the fly and finish with a whip up underneath the bead. Trim with a razor blade. Scissors are incapable of getting the clean square look. Mark the case up with felt pens to match natural case color. Various amounts of brown, olive and black seem to do the job. Hit the top of the peeking body with a little olive if you want. Use two yarn plies, 3 for the size 10