LaFontaine Sparkle Pupa
Gary LaFontaine studied caddis behavior for decades and discovered that the gas bubble surrounding the ascending pupa is the key trigger for trout. His Sparkle Pupa uses Antron yarn woven around the body to capture and reflect light, simulating that gas bubble with uncanny accuracy. It can be dead-drifted near the bottom or swung upward through the water column during a caddis hatch.
- Type
- emerger (Caddis)
- Hook sizes
- #12–18
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- advanced
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall
Materials
- hook: Wet fly or scud hook #12–18
- thread: Brown or olive 8/0
- body: Antron yarn (olive, tan, or amber) wound over body
- overbody: Antron yarn bubbled out on each side
- thorax: Brown or olive dubbing
- wing: Gray or brown deer hair, sparse
Tying steps
- Mount a scud or wet fly hook; start brown thread and wrap to bend.
- Tie in a length of olive, tan, or amber Antron yarn at each side of the bend.
- Dub a slim underbody of the same color dubbing to the 3/4 mark.
- Wrap the Antron yarn strands loosely over the body — do not pull tight; let them bubble outward.
- Bring both Antron strands to the top and tie off, forming a bubble above the body.
- Tie in a sparse bunch of brown partridge fibers as a sparse throat beard.
- Apply a small bunch of gray or brown deer hair as an emerging wing stub.
- Dub a small brown or olive thorax; build a tiny head and whip finish.