The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Snowshoe Caddis Pattern

Hook: TMC 2312 or equivalent, Size 12-16

Thread: Tan 8/0

Body: Turkey Biot, Tan

Lower Thorax: Tan Dry Dubbing

Wing: Two Tan CDC feathers

Thorax/ Legs: Snow shoe Rabbit loop dubbed.

Tying Instructions:

1. Tie in the biot by the tip, at the point on the hook shank directly above the hook barb. The fiber should be orientated so the butt of the biot is to the left of the hook shank and the “notch” is facing “up” relative to the hook shank’s plane. Tying in the biot by looking for the concave or convex alignment of the fiber will not work. You must find the notch on the butt end of the biot. This feature will only be visible if you strip or pull the fiber from the stem. Cutting the biot off of the stem will leave the notch landmark on the stem.

2. Apply a small underbody of dubbing if desired. This will add some bulk to the body profile which may help the appearance on larger flies.

3. With flat nose hackle pliers, grasp the biot. With slight overlapping wraps, wrap toward the eye. Tye off the biot about two thirds the distance up the hook shank.

4. Cover the biot tie-off area with thread and dub a small thorax over the same area. Leave the thread at this dubbed bump. This small bump is important because when you apply the CDC wing, you will want to force the thread that is binding down the CDC, back to this bump, thus forcing the CDC wing to lift off the body at a small angle.

5. Stack two CDC feathers one on top of the other with the tips toward the hook bend and the natural curve of the feather following the curve of the hook, i.e. concave down facing hook shank side. Make two blind capture tie in wraps of the CDC at the base of the dubbing bump. Now wrap three forceful binds to your left or toward the hook bend forcing the CDC to “kink” as it were, at the apex of the dubbing bump. Bind firmly here and trim the CDC two “eye widths” back from the eye. Cover trimmed area with good firm thread wraps. You should have no trouble seeing the open area of the hook eye whatsoever.

6. At the base of the wing, create a closed dubbing loop with your thread. Form a loop by placing your left index finger on the thread half way between the hook and bobbin. While holding the relative position of your finger return the bobbin up and to the BACK side of the hook, pull the bobbin over the top of the hook and back under and now over the thread your left index finger is holding in place… you should have a closed loop now…bind this intersecting area to the hook with three turns of thread and wrap the thread toward the eye. You should now have a small loop defined by your left finger.

7. In this loop, slip a spinning tool of sorts; a Sheppard’s Hook or Byrd’s Dubbing Loop Tool, even a bent paper clip will work. Once the tool is in the loop, immobilize the tool in some fashion. Hang it from the vise or clip it to a magnet that you can tape to your vise. Or, if you have a bobbin rest, now would be a good time to use it. If the loop tool hangs with the bobbin they will spin together…not good!

8. Clip a small amount of hair from the Snowshoe rabbit’s foot. Open the loop with your left index finger and thumb, now slip the hair into the created loop with the hair tips toward the hook point. Slide the hair up to, but not touching the hook. Now, pinch the thread and the hair, you placed in the loop, with your right index finger and thumb. Remove your left hand finger(s) from the loop end and pull the loop tool tight against the loop. Release your right hand finger pinch. If you do not pinch the hair in place, then when you move to close the loop with the tool, the loop will remain open for an instant…and all the hair will collect on your lap.

9. Once the loop is closed, you can now spin the loop tool to get the desired effect, wrap the thread loop toward the hook eye like a dry fly hackle and tye off in the same manner.

Harry Mason 11/07

For a tutorial of this pattern, complete with pictures, visit Harry's website tutorial page at:

Snowshoe Caddis Tutorial at Troutflies.com