Deep Sparkle Pupa (Caddis Pattern) - Trout Fly Tying for Beginners

Another classic from Gary LaFontaine, the Deep Sparkle Caddis Pupa is a fairly easy tie and can be super effective in any water where caddis hatch. This pattern can be tied in any natural color combination.
Hook: Nymph, #10-18
Thread: Brown or olive
Weight: 0.015 diameter
Shuck: Antron or Z-lon, various colors
Body: Fur and sparkle yarn or Ice Dub mix
Legs: Partridge or grouse
Head: Marabou strands
Savage Flies is a project with the mission of encouraging and teaching fly tying to as many people as possible. The channel is named after one of my western Maryland homewaters, the Savage River. I've been uploading at least three new videos a week (usually Monday, Wednesday and Friday).
Thanks for stopping by. Please let me know in the comments if you have any tips or tricks that could help me with my tying, or anyone else watching.

[@josephisenhour4202]

I have all his books signed and was lucky to get to tie with him and gave him some material and a fly I created and he wanted two flies and for me to tie one using the material it was a great day with a lot of encouragement from him

[@FlyTyer1948]

To anyone who reads comments 4 or more years after this video was posted, please don’t substitute Z-lon for the Antron. While Z-lon is a useful tying material, it won’t work for Gary’s Sparkle Pupas. Antron is 3-sided so it reflects light differently, & it’s chemically treated to repel water, so it attracts air bubbles to create the silvery effect of an emerging pupa. The fly looks a bit weird, but it really works.

[@jeffreystone7327]

That is a cool process. Looks fun to tie. A couple of new techniques from most. The dubbing looks enjoyable to work with. I think that will be one of my favorite parts of a lot of flies. Thank you Matt. Very enjoyable video my friend.

[@chasselynch5733]

As you know Matt I've been tying along time but the first time I tied the sparkle pupa it took some patients and frustration to get it right

[@FlyTyer1948]

As a new subscriber to your channel, I’ve started to look back at some earlier posts, especially this one. I’m delighted you included the Deep Sparkle Pupa. If you haven’t already, I hope you will add LaFontaine’ Emergent Sparkle Pupa as well. It’s very similar but is unweighted. This fly works extremely well in all caddis colors. One unexpected color is orange if you are fishing in shallower water near sunset. One suggestion- when you pick out the yarn outer body, it should be made puffier, more like a rugby ball rather than a football. I learned to tie the fly in a class with Gary LaFontaine shortly after he published Caddisflies. (Another book for your reviews?) If you want to see examples of the fuller body, Jack Dennis has been posting a series of videos on fishing & tying with Gary, including the sparkle pupa flies. Tim Flagler’s site for Fly Tyer magazine also has good examples of the fly.

[@SavageFlies]

Thank you; some great info here! I'll take a look at his Emergent Sparkle Pupa (the reference book I was using only had the deep.) And I'm definitely going to check out his Caddisflies. I've come across that in a few lists of the "best fly tying" books. I do not have a copy but you're right, it would probably be a great one for a review. And one other note-- after seeing this comment, I went back to watch this video. Oh my, I have learned a lot about being on camera in the last few months. And... I think my tying has gotten better over these last few months as well. Thanks again for the note! Now I'm going to go check out Jack Dennis and his series on tying with Gary. Cheers. -Matt

[@FlyTyer1948]

@@SavageFlies Hi Matt (hope it’s okay to use your first name), I noticed your comment on another site about the Black Ghost. If you want to check out some sources on Rangely style flies, you might be interested in Joseph Bates book on streamers (affordable if still available) & Forgotten Flies by Paul Schmookler & Ingrid Sils (very pricey). The latter might cost too much but it is gorgeous. As an alternative, you could Google Don Bastian’s website. He was a master level tyer of Rangely flies & the site has great examples. Mike Martinek is also worth a search, although he didn’t maintain a website, you can find examples of his flies. There is one of his tying sessions on KZbin.He was a friend from when I was in college. His mentor was Austin Hogan, also a master tyer.

[@SavageFlies]

@@FlyTyer1948 -Certainly my friend, you can call me Matt. Just tell me your name so I'll know who to address responses to! I'm definitely going to check out Joseph Bates' book. I'm very familiar with Forgotten Flies. No way I can afford that right now though. Have you ever seen a copy in person? I just can't pull the trigger on a $600+ book. Is it really that amazing?? I've also studied Don Bastion's wet flies over the years. That guy is amazing. He's in a league by himself when it comes to old school winged wet flies. You've given me a lot to research! Now I'm going to have to check out Mike Martinek as well. If you ever want to connect outside of the comment section of youtube, drop me a note at [e-mail]. Cheers, Matt

[@FlyTyer1948]

@@SavageFlies Hi Matt. I’m Bob. I think it’s very cool that you are trying to help new tyers & have a mountain focus. I’m a workman-like tyer, not expert, & just getting back into tying. I stopped when when my back got bad enough so I couldn’t fish. I found I really missed tying, so I started looking at various KZbin sites on tying & discovered that I could donate flies to charity. Now that I have a purpose, I’m getting back into it.

[@billedwards2657]

@@SavageFlies if you do get a hold of the book you’ll see that he does the lead a little different, and also that you are much closer to the original than nearly every tier on KZbin. The weight is supposed to be tied straight line under the shank and then loosely spiral wrapped like you would a very loose rib. The overbody must go 360 degrees around as well to mimic the shuck and get the bubbles. Intheriffle released a quick video on how to nail it every time. You’re the only one to do it with the Maribou which is awesome.. he made a rope with the maribou similar to how he ties peacock herls on the twist nymph. Love the channel and the flies you show.. especially with the little bit of history to go along with them. People who tie these with bead heads never read the book and it makes me laugh.. Antron was chosen because metal imparted too much of its own color and was not even close to being effective as products trapping air bubbles.

[@chasselynch5733]

GREAT TIE GREAt Fly

[@chasselynch5733]

Just curious Matt? Do you ever fish north central ,central Pa?

[@SavageFlies]

Not yet but I want to! I spent a week in Philadelphia a couple of years ago for work. I hit all the streams within an hour or so of the city. And I went camping in the Ohiopyle area 3-4 years ago and fished a couple rivers there. Maybe Laurel Run or Meadow Run? I can't remember. But that was definitely southwest PA. Practically MD and WV.

[@waynesnelley3900]

You have too try the Rapid river in Maine. Large Brook trout!