The first caddis appear on warm afternoons, blue-winged olives scatter through the cloudy ones, and every hard rain sends a fresh batch of worms into the current. This week’s Tying Tuesday leans into that shift with four patterns suited to spring flows and the hatches starting to show up.
Ryan at Trident Fly Fishing walks through a clean version of the San Juan Worm—the kind of simple pattern that earns its keep every time the water stains up. Lance Egan at Fly Fish Food ties a darker take on the Thread Frenchie: the familiar fast-sinking jig nymph in a black-and-silver color scheme with a fluorescent hotspot, at home on an indicator or Euro rig. Next is a Balloon Caddis, a floating pattern built around a foam underwing to keep it riding high on bouncy water. And Umpqua signature tyer Dylan Gonzales rounds things out with the Cluck’n Baetis, a size 22 mayfly pattern for the days when the blue-wings are small and the trout are being picky about it.
Clear off the desk, queue up the videos, and tie something new.
San Juan Worm
Hook: Scud hook, size 8
Bead: 4mm gold tungsten (3mm for a lighter version)
Thread: Veevus 6/0, red
Body: Red Ultra Chenille (thin gauge)
Adhesive: Zap-a-Gap or super glue
Black Thread Frenchie
Hook: Umpqua or Hanák 400 jig hook, size 16 (sizes 12–18, down to 20–22)
Bead: 3mm silver slotted tungsten
Body Thread: UTC 70 Denier, black
Tail: Coq de León, medium pardo
Rib: UTC Brassie wire, silver
Body Coating: Solarez Bone Dry UV resin
Collar Thread: Danville 70, fluorescent fire orange
Hot Spot: Hareline Ice Dub, Minnow Belly
Balloon Caddis
Hook: Dry fly hook, sizes 12–16
Thread: Tan, or to match body
Body: Dubbing or yarn, color to match your caddis
Underwing: Natural CDC under 1.5mm foam
Wing: Natural deer hair (or elk)
Head: Foam, folded back
Cluck’n Baetis
Hook: Firehole Sticks 718, size 22
Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk 30D, black
Tail: MFC Micro Barred Fibbets, black
Wing Case: Hareline Natural Ozark Oak Mottled Turkey Quills
Body: Semperfli Perdigon Body, Iridescent Purple
Wing: Just Add H2O Fluoro Fibre
Coating: Loon Outdoors UV Resin
