Caddistrophic Pupa By Charlie Craven

Most insects have a certain streamlined appeal, but caddis pupae just look like something you pulled out of your nose. Their gnarley legs, gelatinous bodies, and budding wings combine to form one of the most unpleasant-looking bugs on earth, but trout love them. The Caddistrophic Pupa is built on a light wire scud hook to match the hunched up curve characteristic of the natural. Perhaps the most important and effective addition I have made to this fly is the CDC collar. When wetted down and saturated, CDC turns from an incredibly buoyant material to an incredibly lively soft hackle. I like to think that I have managed to take this ugly little bug and make it into something that has a bit of appeal to my eye, although as I get older I realize it really doesn't matter what I want in the fly, it's the fish who decide.
Materials:
Hook: TMC 2487 #14-18
Bead (Optional): Black Tungsten Sized To Hook
Thread: 8/0 Olive Dun Or Black Uni
Rib: Chartreuse Ultra Wire (Brassie)
Shellback: Brown Super Floss
Abdomen: Olive Hairline Dubbing
Wing Buds: Brown Super Floss
Collar: Natural Dun CDC
Antennae: Cream Shrimp Fluoro Fibre
Head: Black Ice Dub
All materials are available for purchase at charliesflyboxinc.com/

[@johntuttle9544]

When I think of fly tying, I think of Charlie Craven.

[@cachi-7878]

Haha! I laughed out loud when you showed that mess of a wire, confirming you’re a real Pro, Charlie. Awesome looking fly!

[@lunkerjunkie]

I'm feeling much better about my spools of wire after your pro tip. Thanks.

[@joeduca8582]

One of the best pupa I've seen, no useless adornments, everything moves or shines to simulate life. Freaking cool. Thanks.

[@jack_batterson]

This fly hooked me the minute I saw it.

[@GeorgeAkemanColoradoLife]

Love this pattern Charlie, thanks for sharing.

[@joeborgione5477]

“Tangle that shit up as much as you can: it works better!” 😂😂😂😂

[@royalstukey5765]

Thank you, very nice.

[@tmarkk99]

Loved it Charlie. Thx for the vid. Nothing better todo but tie flies. I’ll tie up a few of these.

[@jamesvatter5729]

That's another great looking pattern.

[@benpack8361]

Another great video. Many classics tips like "here's some thread you can't find anymore" and the professional wire organization system. The name is is outstanding. I wasn't sure about how effective it might be until you striped the antennae. Very buggy! I'll give some a try. Thanks!

[@kellysmith4555]

Good job

[@duderoony]

Dude, that’s a great looking fly. I’m going to try my hand at tying it! Not sure how it’ll turn out by my hand but we will have a go. Thanks for uploading another one dude. Keep safe.

[@zafotbeeb]

The dark stripe down the back caught my attention as the sow bug patterns I tie are the only other patterns where I tie the dark stripe down the back of the bug. Love your attention to details that matter.

[@EscalanteFlyFlipper]

Beauty.

[@EscalanteFlyFlipper]

Remove the bead head and replace the CDC with deer hair and it’s GAry LaFontaines emergent sparkle. The problem with the original was that deer hair to float tiny Caddis was awkward and disproportionate. Great job Charlie. CDC in place of the deer hair. Then lose the bead and it improves the fly LaFontaine called his “miracle fly” in his book “Caddisflies.” Sort of the mole with color facing the CDC swept back - two of the best fish catching surface flies ever created. Great job.

[@robertmajor4904]

Charlie for this fly I found Micro barred voodoo fiber work really well

[@SAMBARANNA]

saya suka sekali ...sangat indah...izin mau cobain bikin seperti itu...

[@user-mz2nx6uw8d]

👍

[@billcrelin689]

this pattern was our saving grace when we experienced high stained water recently fishing sulphurs. Dries werent in the picture and Caddis were also about but conditions dictated using pupa. This pattern outfished my old standbys 10 to 1 . Brilliant!.....the fulling flex floss on your site....should i go regular or micro for #16-20 ? Thx again Charlie

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Regular size, Bill! You can stretch it down for smaller flies

[@billcrelin689]

@@CharliesFlyBox thx charlie ....another effective fish catcher from your vise

[@tomherbert2965]

I have been trying to find that pale olive hare-tron and am having trouble. Has that color be discontinued? If so do you know any good substitutes?

[@pawoodsnwater7551]

Very beautiful fly, but absolutely way too involved to tye. I think another video to “dumb it down” using more common materials and less steps to produce a very similar end product would benefit the everyday fly tyer. Just a suggestion. But, like I said, a beautiful caddis tye.

[@wyomingtrout5581]

Charlie - I am disappointed, I thought that you would use the dubbing collar method that you used for the Problem Child?

[@CharliesFlyBox]

wyomingtrout this fly is way older than that technique!!

[@wyomingtrout5581]

@@CharliesFlyBox I understand, you dubbing loop collar method using bits of dubbing and pieces of CDC allows me to waste nothing and I am cheap. I hate wasting CDC, lol. Quick question - talking about threads you can't buy anymore, I have a real thin orvis thread that is 40 years old, no kidding, it does not flatten out which for me is ideal when tying sz 22 parachute adams. This thread will be used up soon, can you recommend a thread that will replace this old standby. Thanks Charlie!

[@gregb8824]

@@wyomingtrout5581 veevus 14/0

[@wyomingtrout5581]

@@gregb8824 thanks, for small flies I like a round thread that bites into the materials.

[@raylutka1835]

Still using barbed hooks.. Thats a no, no….

[@CharliesFlyBox]

Shhhhh. I pinch them when I tie them on. Are you gonna make this same comment on every fly that has a barb?