Rubberband Caddis
Hook - Mustad Curved Caddis Hook (Model C49S/Size 8)
Thread - Tan UNI-Thread (6/0)
Hackle - Brahma Hen Saddle Feathers (Natural)
Abdomen - Ordinary Rubberband (Wide)
Thorax - Orvis Hare's Ice Dubbing (Tan) or Dave Whitlock's SLF Dubbing (Red Fox Squirrel Thorax Blend)
Materials are listed in the order they are tyed onto the hook. This is a simple pattern to tye. You can crank these out pretty quickly once you get going. Be sure to trim the rubberband to a long slender point (roughly 30° angle) and tye it in by the tip. Be careful not to use to much thread tension or it will cut through the rubber band when you start to wrap it forward. Use a couple loose thread wraps and then increase thread tension as you wrap forward over the tip of the rubberband.
The abdomens were colored with Sharpie and Pantone Markers.
These flies were inspired by tying demonstrations by VERN-O (Vern) and Soft-Hackle (Mark). They each demonstrated how to tye caddis soft hackle patterns with either vinyl material or rubberbands. I was cleaning my tying desk today and came across a couple wide rubberbands and remembered the tying demonstrations. I dug out some Brahma hen saddle hackle VERN-O was kind enough to send me (Thanks Vern!) and started tying. I'm going to crank out a handful for my fishing box.
