The caddis grub fly
Here is a new ‘go-to’ pattern for the freestone rivers of Tasmania. While I have a preference for fishing the dry-fly, this isn’t always the best approach. This is when I opt to fish a nymph in tandem with a larger, bouyant dry fly.
A nymph that has proved very effective this week has been a caddis grub pattern. Originally tied for the fastwaters of Tasmania’s north-east (North Esk, St Patricks rivers), this fly has historically produced for me a few times, but didn’t ever rate as a must-have pattern. That was until this week.
The speedy tail-outs of fastwater slots (the fastwater run-ins at the heads of pools), and the deep bored-out channels found on the outsides of long runs had always under-produced for me on Tasmania’s Mersey River. This caddis grub pattern, fished on a long dropper, has provided the key to succeeding on these sections of water over the last two days of fishing; seven brown trout between 1 and 2lbs, and a wild 2lb rainbow have been proof of its appeal, all fish that have been captured from these previously difficult water structures.
This fly is pretty simple to tie. Olive seals fur makes up the under-body, which is covered with an olive uni-stretch shell-back and copper wire ribbing. A black seals fur throat is added, just behind a black tungsten bead, all tied on to a curved grub hook. It probably looks a bit more like an amphipod than a caddis, so may be it should be called ‘The Amphicaddis’…
