Anyone use something like this foam elk hair caddis?

Josh

Josh

Dead in the water
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Ran across this today. I feel like it would be a handy attractor pattern for small fast cascade streams where you need a fly that can stay buoyant through the busy water. Or maybe it would just make the whole thing too bulky to use useful?

 
Norm Frechette said:
puterbaugh caddis variation thats been around a long time
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Interesting! Flew under the radar for me I guess. Then again, I am surprisingly clueless about fly variations/history.

Some of those puterbaugh versions have more of a stimulator look to me. Which I see as a positive. The stimulator being probably my most used attractor ever for small cascade creeks.
 
Josh said:
Ran across this today. I feel like it would be a handy attractor pattern for small fast cascade streams where you need a fly that can stay buoyant through the busy water. Or maybe it would just make the whole thing too bulky to use useful?

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I don’t know why but regular EHCs or EHCs tied with a thin strip of foam for the body for extra floatation seem to produce better for me, based on extremely unscientific anecdotal angler impressions.
 
Matt B said:
I don’t know why but regular EHCs or EHCs tied with a thin strip of foam for the body for extra floatation seem to produce better for me, based on extremely unscientific anecdotal angler impressions.
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I admit, I've never been super positive about EHC's in the past. I've usually had much more success with other attractor patterns. This version caught my eye enough to wonder if it would work better for me.
 
Seems an overlooked pattern, not the easiest to tie, but darn effective is the Goddard Caddis.
 
Josh said:
I admit, I've never been super positive about EHC's in the past. I've usually had much more success with other attractor patterns. This version caught my eye enough to wonder if it would work better for me.
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EHC's are my go-to on rivers, though I really don't fish moving water much. I like that at the end of the drift, you let them drag under and swing and I seem to catch as many or more fish that way.
 
I’ve used the salmonfly variety in drift boat. Enjoy it as it always floats in turbulent water. Just keeps going all day
 
Josh said:
Ran across this today. I feel like it would be a handy attractor pattern for small fast cascade streams where you need a fly that can stay buoyant through the busy water. Or maybe it would just make the whole thing too bulky to use useful?

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Wapsi makes "razor foam." .5 mm and 1 mm in the same pack. Comes in a variety of natural colors and a few bright ones. You can take a razor/exacto and a ruler and cut it into pretty thin strips that can be wound up a shank for the body that isn't really any bulkier than a dubbed body. I've done EHC this way, Adams with a foam body, etc. I can't remember how small of flies I've tried this on--pretty sure I'e gone down to at least a #16.

It also compresses well, and combined with the minimal amount of material to begin with means the tie-in bump is very small. If you're using a wider strip you can cut the end of the strip at an angle so you're tying in less material. You do have to be careful aobut cutting into the foam (with the thread) as it will weaken and the first wrap can then be a problem. But it's very doable.
 
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I tie a similar pattern, but instead of poly yarn I use a CDC puff and then hackle with CDC in a dubbing loop. I also like to 'toast' the foam with a lighter, I find it floats longer. I call it a 'toasted caddis' but do not claim to be the inventor. It was always my go to fly for the foothills streams of Southern Alberta.

Colin
 
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