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This is the basic Western
hairwing wetfly that I tie for October caddis. It is an indigenous fly in both
function & form. I developed this one to fish for October caddis on the
upper Columbia
Unlike the last few hairwings featured in this series, it seeks to
imitate a certain insect, covering two stages of October caddis: either a
winged emerger, or a drowned spinner. I find this style most useful in
simulating the emergent phase of drake mayflies & October caddis, larger
insects that rise from the bottom fully winged or wings unfurling. Particularly
October caddis & black quill (Leptophlebia),
an important large mayfly in the Columbia
A hairwing, in the right size & color,
functions as an effective emerger when fishing over black quill, in fact, essential,
in my own experience. I spent a lot of frustrating seasons unable to conceive a
satisfactory emerging nymph pattern to meet the great black quill hatches of my
home water. Until I met some fisheries biologists setting traps for sturgeon
larvae. Sampling in about ten feet of water, the traps, set on the bottom, kept
plugging up with large nymphs, & the crew showed me their haul & asked
me if I could identify the nymphs. They were mahogany all over in coloration,
with a striking yellow banding between the abdomen segments, & I was able
to identify them because they looked just like the adults. I was surprised that
the nymphs were found so deep, but most surprising were the wings unfurling
from the distended, black wing pads of the fully mature nymphs.
Dayum… I thought to myself, they’re swimming up from ten feet deep! trailing
that big ol’ black wing!
Needless to say, I was fishing a winged version of
the nymph the following evening, & immediate results let me know I was
finally on the right track. Wasn’t too unlike my experience with October
caddis. Much as I love wingless patterns, sometimes there is no ignoring the
wing as a stand-out feature that must be dealt with.
October Caddis Hairwing
Hook: I tie these on a #8
steelhead style or TMC 200R
Thread: Rust-brown UNI 8/0
Rib: Copper wire
Abdomen: Umpqua
Sparkle Blend October Caddis dubbing (rusty orange) on a loop of the tying
thread
Thorax: Mixed, 3/4 natural
bluish-gray rabbit with guard hairs, 1/4 Orange Sparkle Blend – don’t over-blend
– dubbed on a loop of the tying thread
Wing: Pine squirrel tail –
tie in one mottled turkey tail feather fiber as a cheek on each side of the
wing
Hackle: One turn of orange
hen or saddle ahead of the wing, then to the hook eye with furnace hen ~ &
finish.
Flyfish NE Washington with
Steven Bird: http://ucflyfishing.blogspot.com
