Video: How to Tie a Goddard Caddis

The Goddard Caddis floats like a cork and has a realistic silhouette.
photo courtesy Tightline productions

The Goddard Caddis was the result of a true collaborative project. English fly-fishing author John Goddard (who sadly passed away at the end of last year) and his angling pal, Clive Henry, came up with an idea for a stillwater pattern. They thought that a fly with a spun deer-hair body could be clipped into shape to mimic the body silhouette of a caddisfly. To a fish below, this sharp silhouette would look delicious. They relayed their idea to American tier Andre Puyans, who created the first prototype of what was to become the G&H Sedge. Puyans eventually simplified and altered the original to create what we now call the Goddard Caddis.

In this video by Tightline Productions, Tim Flagler explains that, although this pattern is known to present tiers with difficulties, it doesn’t have to be frustrating. A judicious application of adhesive and careful preparation of the hackle feather are the keys to simplifying the process.

Goddard Caddis

Hook: Standard dry-fly hook (here, a Dai-Riki 305), sizes 14. 
Thread: Rusty brown, 6/0 or 70 denier.
Adhesive: Zap-A-Gap.
Body: Deer hair, flared and spun.
Antennae: Brown hackle quill.
Hackle: Brown dry-fly hackle.
Head: Tying thread.
Tools: Long scissors.