The pattern notebook · emerger
Holy Grail Caddis Emerger
How do you tie a Holy Grail Caddis Emerger?
Holy Grail Caddis Emerger is a emerger fly pattern for trout. Find its 8 materials and 27 tying steps below.
- Difficulty
- 3 of 5
- Target species
- trout
Added to catalog · Updated
At the vise
Materials
- Emerger Hook, TMC 2488, sizes 14-18
- Brass Bead, 2.8mm, Gold
- Thread (70 Denier), Olive
- Flashabou, Pearl
- Hare's Ear Dubbing, Natural (abdomen)
- Pheasant Tail Fibers
- Hare's Ear Dubbing, Dark (thorax, picked out)
- Partridge Feather
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Tying instructions
Step 1: Mash the barb of the hook.
Step 2: Place a 3/32-inch gold bead onto the hook shank.
Step 3: Start red 70 denier thread on the hook shank a short ways in front of the hook point and take a few wraps rearward before snipping off the tag.
Step 4: Cut a single strand of pearl Flashabou for the rib.
Step 5: Place one end of the Flashabou against the near side of the hook and take a few thread wraps to lightly secure it. Pull the material under the wraps so it doesn’t need to be trimmed.
Step 6: Bring the Flashabou forward and lock it down with a thread wrap or two. Pull it over top of the bead and under the hook shank in order to push the bead rearward and ensure it doesn't move from that position.
Step 7: Continue taking thread wraps down the hook shank, binding the Flashabou to it as you go. Keep taking wraps well down into the hook bend.
Step 8: Pull a small pinch of natural hare's mask dubbing free from the packet and create a thin dubbing noodle on your tying thread, about an inch and a half long.
Step 9: Start taking wraps with the noodle so the dubbing begins right at the end of the thread. Take one full wrap in back of the Flashabou to ensure it doesn't slip off the dubbing and back onto bare hook when you take your first wrap with it.
Step 10: Continue taking touching wraps with the dubbing noodle up the hook shank, building a gently tapered body as you go. Ideally, you want the body to end with bare tying thread hanging down right at the hook point.
Take Flashabou and start making open spiral wraps over top of the dub body. Keep taking wraps up the hook until you reach your tying thread. Use it to secure the Flashabou with a few tight turns, then snip the excess Flashabou off close.
Step 12: Pull down and strip off 10 or so fibers from the stem of a natural colored pheasant tail feather. Cut the curlies off so they don't get in the way.
Step 13: Reorient the fibers in your fingers and then snip a quarter inch or so of the brittle tips off square.
Step 14: Place these tip ends on top of the hook shank and take several nice tight thread wraps to secure them. Continue wrapping rearward until your thread is once again right at the hook point.
Step 15: Get hold of an Hungarian partridge feather.
Step 16: Pluck a single feather free from the skin and strip off all the lower webby fibers and nasty stuff from the base of the stem.
Step 17: Pass the stem of the feather to your left hand and get hold of the very tip with hackle pliers or the fingers of your right hand.
Step 18: Pull down the lower fibers and grip them with the thumb and index finger of your left hand, leaving only the feather's tip exposed.
Step 19: Use your tying scissors to snip most of the tip off, leaving just a small, triangular shape tie-in anchor.
Step 20: Place the anchor against the near side of the hook in front of the bead and take thread wraps to secure it.
Step 21: Pull the stem up to vertical and fold the fibers rearward with your left hand.
Step 22: With the fibers pointing back, start taking touching wraps with the stem around the hook shank. Two full wraps is usually enough.
Step 23: Use your tying thread to secure the feather's bare stem to the hook shank. Be careful so as not to trap fibers while doing this.
Step 24: Reach in with the very tips of your tying scissors and snip the excess stem off close.
Step 25: Gently preen the partridge fibers rearward and take a few more thread wraps to hold them back and build up a neat little head on the fly.
Step 26: Do a four or five turn whip finish to secure your tying thread. Make sure the knot is seated well before snipping or cutting your tying thread free.
Step 27: Add a drop or two of head cement to the thread wraps to ensure nothing comes unraveled. Use a bodkin to spread the cement all around the wraps.