Matt Grobert, fly tier extraordinaire and host of Caddis Chronicles, has this to say about his October Caddis:
The October caddis is the “Isonychia of caddis hatches” in that it is a large insect that hatches sporadically, and the trout become accustomed to their presence for about two, autumn-colored months of the year.
Here in the East, the October caddis primarily hatches at night into very early morning. I’m not sure about out West, but it is an important hatch there as well.
Although it will take trout at anytime of the day, I like to fish this pattern early in the a.m. along the margins of fast water and bankside pockets. The insect prefers faster riffles and pocket water, making an imitation an important pattern on all of our boulder strewn, freestone rivers and streams.
This video by Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions offers clear, step-by-step instructions for tying the pattern, as well as important tips that will help you when tying other patterns. Here, you’ll learn how to tie on a hair wing that flares just right, how to align your dubbing fibers,” and how touch dubbing creates a buggy appearance.
Matt’s October Caddis
Hook: Standard dry-fly hook, size 10 and 12.
Rear Thread: Orange, 6/0 or 140-denier.
Abdomen: Orange rabbit-and-Zelon blend dubbing.
Underwing: Amber Antron or Zelon.
Wing: Orange dyed elk hair, cleaned and stacked.
Thorax: Orange rabbit-and-Zelon blend dubbing.
Head: Tying thread.
Tools: Dubbing wax
Very nice