Fishing Fly tying

Fly tying: CDC Micro Caddis

How many times have you stood at the tail of a run that’s just boiling with rising fish, but you have no idea what, exactly, they’re after?

Yeah, dozens, right? Me, too.

Above, Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions, ties his CDC Micro Caddis, a fly that he uses in these situations with great success. It makes sense. It’s small. It floats in the surface film but doesn’t ride high and dry. And it could immitate any number of insects that trout would normally rise to eat, like small caddis, BWO emergers and even midges.

It’s small—size 20— but Tim swears by it. See what you think.

— Chris Hunt

By Chris Hunt.