Sand Caddis Nymph Freshwater Hook : Size 10. Thread : White 6/0. Weight : Lead wire. Body : Hares ear dubbing. Head : Plastic string ( burnt one end to give a little head ). Legs : Grey Partridge-coloured with yellow artliner.
Tying Instructions 1) Cover shank with thread and add a few wraps of lead wire from the middle towards the tail of the fly. ( number of turns dependant on depth fished ), then secure the lead by covering with thread. 2) Burn/ heat the end of a small ½ inch piece of plastic string until the end forms a small lump. Tie down the string on top of the shank so that about 3 mm ( the lump/ head bit ) of the string passes the hook bend. Secure tightly. 3) take the middle / tip of a partridge feather and cut it out like a wedge shape, attached behind the head so the barbs go past the burnt head by a few millimeters and encircle the head / shank at least half way round. 4) Dub very tightly some hare ear or suitable colouring back to the hook eye and whip finish / tie off add head cement etc.. Ensuring that the thickness of the body is nearly symmetrical and straight, with a slight taper. ( bigger end at head ). 5) Colour the grey partridge with yellow Artliner, colour the white string yellow too but with a small brown dot at the end. 6) Now get your Velcro and rough up the dubbing as much as possible then with sharp scissors trim the dubbing as close as possible, kind of like sheering the fly so it has a little or no guard hairs showing.
Fly Notes I tried several patterns using real sand but found a standard hare and copper caught fish in the same situation just as well, and there were no problems with glue and sand falling off. With the hare and copper base I added head and legs and lost the rib the result was better than expected.
Fishing Notes Usual cast to sighted trout, with no retrieve, but effective on slow figure 8 retrieve in still water. In streams cast to free drift near weed banks and the end of sandy pools where the water starts to ripple. Target species include brown & rainbow trout.
Location Notes Fished around weed beds and sandy patches in lakes or in streams too.
Prey Notes Representation of a Sand caddis.
Tier Grant Marshall

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