TYING A PEEPING CADDIS
The Peeping Caddis is a modern imitation of case-building caddis larvae. I first found this fly on the blog flytying.ro, so I believe Lucian Vasies is the inventor of the fly. The fly is simple to tie, but it is also an excellent imitation of one of trout and grayling’s most important food sources. You can tie it in different sizes and colors.
Materials for Peeping Caddis
| Part: | Materials: | Size/Color: |
| Hook: | Akita | AK621BL #10 |
| Bead: | Taimen | Tungsten Silver 3.2 mm |
| Weight: | Lead Wire | Small |
| Thread: | Veevus | Black 14/0 |
| Head/Tag: | Lagartun | Mini Flatbraid Fl Chartreuse |
| Tail: | Partridge | Natural |
| Body: | Hare’s Ear Dub | Natural |
| Rib: | UTC | Gold Wire SM |
Video Instructions on How to Tie a Peeping Caddis
Video coming soon.Slideshow on How To Tie a Peeping Caddis
Step 1 – Make the Head and Tail
Start with putting the tungsten bead onto the hook. Then, wrap a few turns of lead wire onto the hook shank. Secure the lead with a drop of varnish to prevent it from rotating. You can skip this step if you want a lighter fly. Tie in your tying thread behind the lead wire and continue wrapping until you reach the hook’s bend. Tie in the Flatbraid. The Flatbraid is going to be the head of the case-building caddis. Make a few turns with the Flatbraid down the hook bend. Continue with tying in some Partridge fibers to create the legs of the fly.
Step 2 – Make the Body
Tie in the gold wire. The gold wire will be the rib of the fly and add strength and protection to the dubbed body. Make a dubbing noodle with the Hare’s Ear Dub. It is better to make a thin noodle and add several layers to create an even body. Dub the body of the fly until you reach the tungsten bead. Finish the body by ribbing it. Depending on hook size, 4 to 6 turns should be enough. Complete the fly with a whip finish or a few half-hitches and a drop of varnish.
How to Fish the Peeping Caddis
The Peeping Caddis is a heavy fly with lead wire and a tungsten bead. It is also a jig fly, so the hook’s point will be pointing upwards. The upward-pointing hook will prevent it from getting stuck in sunken three branches or rocks. It is a great fly to use on its own in fast-flowing water, but you can also use it as a top-nymph in a tandem combination.
