Czech Caddis Pupa

The Czech Caddis Pupa is a plump, realistic imitation of cased caddis pupae that works on fast-water streams worldwide. Its segmented body, mono back, and soft dubbing thorax imitate the natural with great accuracy. Fish it tight-line Euro style on a heavy rig, tumbling it along the bottom of gravel runs where naturals are emerging. The olive and amber colors are most productive, matching Hydropsyche and Rhyacophila species.

Type
nymph (Caddis)
Hook sizes
#10–16
Target species
trout
Difficulty
intermediate
Best seasons
spring, summer, fall

Materials

  • hook: Heavy scud hook #10–16
  • thread: Olive or tan 6/0
  • weight: Lead wire
  • body: Olive or amber dubbing, tapered
  • ribbing: Fine gold wire
  • shellback: Clear mono or Thin Skin

Tying steps

  1. Mount a size 10–16 heavy scud hook; start thread and wind lead wire.
  2. Tie in mono back strip and wire rib at the bend.
  3. Dub a fat, tapered olive or amber abdomen to the 2/3 mark.
  4. Pull the mono back over the abdomen; counter-wrap the wire rib in tight spirals.
  5. Dub a rough, buggy brown or dark olive thorax in the front third.
  6. Tie in a small strip of dark Thin Skin over the thorax as a back.
  7. Add a few soft hackle fibers on each side as legs.
  8. Build a small head; whip finish and cement.