Some flies just work, and there’s no real explanation as to why that is. The Peacock Caddis is one of those flies, as Tim Flagler perfectly describes in the video below.
I like this fly for two reasons. First, I think any fly with that “insect green” color put forth by peacock herl just seems to catch the eye of trout. It works for flies like the Royal Wulff and the Royal Coachman, and it works in streamer and soft-hackle patterns that incorporate the herl into the fly bodies. And, it clearly works for the Peacock Caddis.
Second, this fly is easy to tie, and the less time I spend at the vise, the more time I spend fishing. Simple as that.
— Chris Hunt