MTFF - April 2008 - Emergent Sparkle Caddis Pupa

April 4th, 2008 Buster

The MTFF Fly of the Month for April 2008 is the Emergent Sparkle Caddis Pupa. When caddis are ready to hatch they leave their pupal cocoon and get ready for the accent to the surface of the water. Most species exude gases from their newly formed adult body. This gas is trapped by the old pupal skin which still surrounds them. This process starts to separate the adult insect from this pupal shuck. The shuck is inflated forming a bubble or balloon around parts of the adult insect. These gases within this bubble reflect light. Each caddis pupa becomes a reflective buoyant orb as it swims and rises to the surface.

Gary LaFontaine in his revolutionary book Caddisflies, noted that these reflective qualities made the caddis pupa highly visible to trout. The bubble becomes a key target for feeding fish. His answer was the Sparkle Pupa Series of flies. They are tied with a bubble of Antron fibers around the body to trap air and reflect light much the same as the real insect. The Sparkle Pupa Series of flies revolutionized fly fishing during a number of important caddis hatches. - www.flyfishusa.com

Emergent Sparkle Caddis Pupa

Hook: TMC 100; Size 12 to 18
Thread: To match underbody
Overbody: To match underbody Sparkle Yarn
Underbody: Half Sparkle Yarn and half fur
Tail: Clipped Sparkle yarn from the Overbody
Wing: Deer Hair
Head: Dubbed Fur or Wrapped Marabou fibers

Entry Filed under: Buster the Fly Fishing Guru, Fly Fishing