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Caddis (Sedge) Pupa with Gills

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Caddis patterns always pull me back to the vise. Maybe it’s pure nostalgia—when I was a kid fishing small mountain streams in summer, caddis larvae were often my most reliable flies. But I also tie them because they are simply enjoyable to build: a distinctive shape, small details that matter, and endless ways to recreate the same silhouette with different materials.

For this version, I wanted something uncomplicated: a fly I can tie quickly, keep slim, and still trust for durability. I normally use catgut for this style, but this time I tested Trout Line Micro Stretch Rib to see how it behaves—both dry at the vise and wet, the way the fish actually sees it.
As you can see, it actually looks really good: the body is translucent, with visible gills, and the silhouette is exactly what I want—slim, yet still with enough presence, without looking like a “fat sausage.” In the end, I’m genuinely happy with the result.
Materials:
-Hook in size #12/14/16
https://www.troutline.ro/demmon-supreme-competition-c400-bl-caddis-hook
-Underbody Thread -yellow Troutline perdigon body thread
https://www.troutline.ro/troutline-perdigon-flat-body-thread-90den-100m
-Body made of Micro Stretch rib - yelloe pupa
https://www.troutline.ro/trout-line-micro-stretch-rib
-Gills made of any light cream or white dubbing = fixed in dubbing loop and very sparse
-Thorax made of Pure Squirrel Dubbing Plus - fixed in dubbing loop -very sparse
https://www.troutline.ro/troutline-pure-squirrel-dubbing-plus
-Dubbing behind bead -Troutline Atomic dubbing
https://www.troutline.ro/troutline-atomic-synthetic-dubbing
-Bead: tungsten in coffee brown or black, as you like and works on your rivers

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