Craig Mathews and John Juracek's caddis emerger — the summer-evening fly on the Madison and everywhere else caddis outnumber anglers. The arched Z-Lon loop over the thorax catches light like an unfolding wing; fished dead-drift in the film with no floatant on the body, it takes the fish that refuse every high-riding adult.
1. Thread base — Attach tan thread and wrap to the bend.
2. Shuck — Tie in a sparse wisp of amber Z-Lon at the bend, one hook-gap long.
3. Body — Dub a slightly scruffy tan body — a hare's ear/sparkle blend — to the 3/4 point.
4. Loop wing — Tie in a strand of white Z-Lon at the 3/4 point, form a low arched loop over the thorax area, and tie the other end down just behind the eye. The loop should bubble just above the body.
5. Head — Dub a small hare's ear head over the tie-down, brushy.
6. Finish — Whip finish and cement sparingly. Grease the shuck and loop only.
hook
thread
tail
body
wing
head
Hydropsyche spp.
Various
