Gary LaFontaine's Sparkle Pupa was a landmark pattern and the centerpiece of his book on caddis. The Z-Lon trailing shuck and overbody suggest a caddis in the process of emerging — exactly the vulnerable stage trout key on.
1. Thread base — Attach brown thread to the hook and build a base to the bend.
2. Shuck — Tie in a sparse bunch of tan/amber Z-Lon at the bend, extending one hook-gap rearward.
3. Underbody — Dub a rough hare's ear underbody from the bend to the 3/4 point.
4. Overbody — Loop a bunch of Z-Lon over the underbody and tie it down at the 3/4 point, then pull both ends forward to form a bubble-like overbody over the dubbing. Tie down firmly.
5. Head — Dub a slightly fuller, darker brown head/thorax from the 3/4 point to just behind the eye.
6. Finish — Whip finish and apply head cement.
hook
thread
tail
body
thorax
Hydropsyche spp.
Various
