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Posted this fly awhile back & Ray asked if I would post a tutorial (it's harder than Ray makes it look). Please forgive the shaky camera work.
Spotted Sedge are the most prolific caddis species in the Columbia drainage & much of the West. These have a long hatch season, emerging from mid-June (following Grannom) through August. The pattern featured here is a redux of a pattern originally developed by B.C. guide, Rod Zavaduc. It is, so far, the best I’ve tried for meeting Spotted Sedge &, in larger sizes, also fishes for larger Fall species like Great Gray Spotted Sedge & Striped Sedge.
Hook: Your choice, though I prefer a straight-eye, standard wetfly. The one used here is Mustad 3366. If using a turned-eye hook, I’d suggest fastening it to the tippet with a turle or loop knot so the fly tracks & hovers properly. The natural Spotted Sedge pupa is about a #14 (adults a size smaller).
Thread: Camel UNI 8/0 – tan or gray will give a lighter body, or choose a thread that gives an undertone suitable to the sedges in your neighborhood.
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Hackle: Partridge. Spotted sedge wings exhibit a mottled, tannish-brown cast. Begin the thread wrap about 4 thread turns behind the hook eye, allowing for a tag about 4” long after the shank is wound. Wind toward the bend about 4 or 5 turns, then wind forward to within about 2 thread turns behind the eye. Prepare the hackle, stripping away excess barbs from the stem below the usable portion. Strip away a couple extra barbs on the forward side to create a flat to help seat the hackle for winding. Fasten the hackle to the top of the hook shank, concave side up, then wind the tying thread toward the bend, about 6 turns, trim away the hackle stem, then continue winding back to a point adjacent the center of the hook barb (depending on hook chosen & length of body desired).
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Rib: Fine silver wire. Tie in on the underside of the hook shank, the wire tag extended forward to the thorax area.
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Body: Pearl midge flash. 3 or 4 strands is about right for a #14. Fasten with a couple turns of thread, the tag ends extended forward to the thorax area. Wind the tying thread forward over the body & rib tags, to the hackle tie-in. Gather the thread tag & midge flash strands together above the hook shank. Twist counter-clockwise to create a rope – wind forward to within a few thread turns behind the hackle tie-in, fasten with 3 turns of thread & trim away excess material (for a more subdued version, substitute natural hares mask or light-medium olive rabbit dubbing).
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