This fly is easy to tie. The pattern teaches three essential techniques used in all fly tying. First, you learn how to attach the thread to the hook. Second, you learn how to attach material to the top of the hook using the Soft Loop technique. Finally, you learn how to finish your fly using two half hitches.
Tying the Green Caddis Larva
Materials
Hook-Lightening Strike NW3 sizes from 10 to 18
Body-Use green yarn or dubbing
Rib-Small copper wire
Thorax-Single strand of Peacock Herl
Thread-8-0 thread
Fly Tying
The first step in tying any fly is attaching the tying thread and laying down a layer of thread along the hook shank to serve as a foundation. Next, add a copper rib using a soft loop technique. The soft loop technique may be one of the most important step in fly tying. It is used to attach materials to the hook. Take a four inch piece of copper wire and place it on top of the hook. The front part of wire will over lap the thread wraps placed in the first step. This will be cut off later. Hold the wire on top of the hook between the thumb and first finger of the left hand. Bring the thread up between the thumb and hook and down the other side between the hook and first finger. This forms the soft loop. Pull down on the bobbin to tighten the tread around the wire and hook. Hold the wire on top of the hook and wrap with thread to a point opposite the barb of the hook. Wrap the thread back to the starting point and clip the excess wire.
In the next step, the body material is attached using the soft loop. Attach a four inch piece of green yarn in the same manner as the copper wire. Wind the thread to the barb and back to the tie in point. Trim the excess yarn. Wrap the yarn forward to form the body. Grasp the yarn in your right hand and make your wrap behind the hook passing the yarn to your left hand under the hook. Pick up the yarn again with the right hand and repeat. Stop at the original tie in point. Do not crowd the eye. Wrap at least three turns of thread around the yarn and cut off the excess. Wind the ribbing forward using open even turns to the tie in point in a similar manner. Tie off the ribbing with at least three turns of thread and trim the excess. Finally, select a peacock herl and attach at the tie in point. Make one to two wraps forward almost too the eye of the hook. Leave a small amount of room to complete a thread head. Wrap with at least three wraps of thread and trim the excess herl. Tie two half hitches to complete the head.