Sometimes I get a “fever” for tying caddis larvae. I don’t know why—probably because a long time ago, when I was a kid fishing small mountain streams in summer, these flies were the most effective ones for me.
I also simply enjoy tying them. They have a very distinctive shape, and it’s genuinely fun to build the same pattern using different materials, trying to reproduce the same look and profile each time.
So here’s a model I usually tie with catgut, but this time I used Trout Line’s new material: Micro Stretch Rib. I tied it with this material just to see how it turns out—whether I can build the fly simply and fast, and whether it’s durable as well.
I wetted it to see how it looks and which details change once it’s soaked. Very often, many fly tiers get excited about a freshly tied fly without really “putting themselves in the fish’s shoes” and studying it in its natural environment. A wet fly in the water changes its colours and texture, which I consider important.
As you can see in the photos, it actually looks really good: the body is translucent, with visible gills, and the silhouette is exactly what I want—slim, yet still with enough presence, without looking like a “fat sausage.” In the end, I’m genuinely happy with the result.
hope you like it too, and I’d really love to hear your opinion:)
Cheers and Happy Tying!
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