How to tie: a Foam Caddis (Puterbaugh Caddis)

From: Trident Fly Fishing

Today, the crew at Trident Fly Fishing is going to tie up the Puterbaugh Foam Caddis, a simple but effective fly developed by Peter Puterbaugh, a guide on the Arkansas River in Colorado. This fly is easy to tie, uses minimal materials, and creates a great silhouette in the water—perfect for those late day caddis hatches

Materials:

• Hook: TMC 100 SPBL Barbless Dry Fly Hook (size 14)

• Thread: UTC 70 Denier Tan

• Body: Hairline Foam (2mm Tan)

• Wing: Bleached Deer Hair

• Hackle: Furnace Saddle Hackle (size to hook)

• Head Cement: Clear

Steps:

1. Start the Thread:

   • Begin by wrapping the thread around the hook shank about one-third of the way down to create a base for the foam body.

2. Attach the Foam Body:

   • Cut a strip of 2mm Hairline Foam (about 2x2 inches). Tie it in on top of the hook, extending slightly beyond the bend of the hook (about a hook gap length).

3. Tie in the Deer Hair Wing:

   • Cut a small clump of bleached deer hair, clean out any fuzz, and stack it. Tie it in so that the length extends slightly longer than the foam body. Secure the hair by wrapping through the butt ends, pulling them back as you go.

4. Prepare the Hackle:

   • Take a furnace saddle hackle, remove barbules on either side of the stem, and tie it in right in front of the wing.

5. Wrap the Hackle:

   • Wrap the hackle down the shank, keeping it in touching turns, and work your way up to just behind the hook eye. Form a small head with the thread.

6. Whip Finish and Cement:

   • Perform a whip finish, secure with head cement, and clean the hook eye to finish the fly.