Tying a Gary Lafontaine Caddis Pupa (Variant) by Davie McPhail

[@GarryThall]

I have been tying these Lafontaine emergers for years with modest success creating the gas bubble. Davie McPhail's method above is the first time I have been able to make the bubble perfectly everytime. As always his solutions to tricky patterns is always spot on. Thank you Davie!

[@kerrypitt9789]

I remember watching Gary's videos. You Davie, were my favorite KZbin Tier, still are! But Gary's books were soul awakening. I remember I was so stressed about tying, because I was not doing great at the bench or at casting. One day I was shopping and on the book table of old books, I found Challenge of the trout, for $4 or $5. This book changed everything for me. It spoke of Why did I tie, what do I tie, with what do I tie. Then it tied everything into a story and I fell in love with fly fishing all over again. I was brought to realize that nobody was judging me, nobody was telling me I was failing. It describes rational thought through the process of finding a fish, what to use to catch the fish and the process between my body and my brain, to present this fly to a fish. It did not fix it immediately, but once I looked at this information, I could actually understand what I was doing. Slowly my fish catch and release was much better and off we went!!! So Gary taught this to me and a few years later he was gone. I bought his amazing book "CaddisFlies," if you are creating without it, sorry but you need it. I have his tying video in my Library and if he has other fly books out, then I look forward to finding them. I have always kept an eye open, I have been watching for any others available. If anyone is interested in getting hold of the Video he and his daughter are in, email me at [e-mail] I'll lend it, as long as you know I will expect it back. It's a handy bit of stuff to watch and you know.....😁 Take care Out there!

[@jameshenderson3238]

I am sure Mr Gary LaFontaine would be very proud and complimentary of your revised pattern of this popular caddis emerger if he was with us today. Thank you for sharing.

[@tylerpaquette9376]

This fly is my absolute favorite caddis imitation it’s the first bug I caught my first trout on and my first tied fly it means a lot to me I recently found a source that has Gary’s original materials I’ll be sure to apply these tweaks to this amazing pattern thank you for sharing

[@Flies_the_limit]

Sir mcphail stepping it up on the LaFontaine! Beautiful work as always

[@sirmegallot3276]

My home river is the Neversink in NY. I feel blessed to be able to be in proximity to such a historic and beautiful river. One of my favorite patterns to use is the la fontaine caddis; the fish never leave it alone! This particular variant is so detailed that I couldn't imagine a refusal. Like I said; looks so good, I'd eat it! Thanks Davie

[@jamesrice8412]

Tied up a few of these and tried them on the Kinnickinnic here in western WI. Though the calendar says spring it's still winter (but I'm hoping!) so I don't know why I tried them, or why they worked, but this was one of the best best days I've had in a while - maybe the fish are tired of winter too!. Thank you Davie!

[@DavieMcPhail]

Well done James...ATB Davie.

[@flyfishrode6367]

You never cease to amaze me in the way you make all this look so simple. I will have to tie up a few of these for the late spring here. Great job!

[@aurelienlinnenkamp9885]

So nice flys mr Davie. Like everytime, so good 👌

[@markpeterson7788]

Great video and awesome pattern! I think the bubble affect makes the trout go crazy. Also the leg addition was a good add. Tight lines

[@markpeterson7788]

Not sure if it’s the bubble that attracts the fish. It is very effective regardless

[@kuttycrew]

A great rewind on this shelter in place day, Davie I will bet you have been recorded nearly 1,000,000 times saying “ wax your thread”.

[@ratchman26]

I know you have been asked a million times davey but what wax is that and can you buy it in the states

[@ret285]

I loved how you formed the segmented underbody. Great technique. Thank you for teaching me something new. ;-)

[@sandrosflies75]

stunning update to already good pattern. awesome.

[@thomasabrahamsen7793]

Nice Davie. You really did put your own touch in this pattern. Thanks for all the inspiration. Regards Thomas

[@richardduvall6512]

Awesome variant

[@aidangill9064]

Verry good fly davie I like the way you tied the body on the fly nice job

[@laxslacker]

This is one of my favorite flies, sizes 18-14. I like to use partridge instead. But I don't ever nymph without trailing one of these off my rig. It should be a top 5 fly in any box, gi en the abundance of caddis in almost all watersheds

[@roblacitinola866]

fabulous demo!

[@andrewmorke]

Beautiful.

[@WATTSROBIN]

great interpretation davie. i used to tie one with white antron and amber body dubbing. brilliant on the tarvie lochs. the trailing shuck looked so good i incorporated into my sedgehogs.

[@tylerharvey3688]

Beautiful fly

[@mazman8343]

Thanks very much David happy Halloween

[@kamilponikowski9176]

I have read somewhere that it has been actually scientifically disproven by some biologists that a caddis pupa looks like this during its transformation, meaning with this big air bubble around its body, which is how Gary Lafontaine imagined it. And therefore I think that this pattern is rather a general attractor pattern, mainly attracting rather than imitating, which would explain why it is so damn effective nearly anywhere and under so many conditions, ya know when there is no caddis hatch whatsoever this fly will still catch like crazy

[@kerrypitt9789]

Gary did not imagine this!!! He wore diving gear and had someone up top toss samples that went beneath the surface then had photographs of his materials to go by. There was no imagination on his part.

[@guybaumgartner4244]

superbe Davie tankiou

[@precisionanglingYT]

Great video. Caddis pupae are one of my favorites. I'll have to try this pattern.

[@randellgribben9772]

i just watched 4 videos on how to tie this fly., your was the easyest to tie..

[@abefrohman1759]

Thanks for sharing with us.

[@markinnis8404]

I really like this version of a great fly!!

[@bolatbb6560]

Удачное сочетание. Покажите еще другие, нимфы.

[@tadashimatsubara4893]

Beautiful, great ideas in it

[@freddymartin7664]

Looks promising Fly pattern Very nice Thanks.!😎

[@jnx7884]

That's bloody good mate

[@splishsplash2579]

Fantastic Davie keep them coming ( Wigan )

[@militarist7777]

Отлично получилось.

[@フライタイイング猫]

ナイスベリー

[@АндрейВолков-й8г]

Мушки у вас супер всего хорошего вашем деле

[@andreasherbeck9230]

Nice! Thanks!

[@joebutler1201]

Another beautie daive will work on river and lake i have no doubt joe in lreland

[@michaeljackson5970]

The Brits and the tanks are turkey separated by a common language !

[@EatShredSleep87]

When working your thread so close to the eye, how do you keep it from falling into the eye of hook?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi @EatShredSleep87, Keep the thread tight and adding a little wax will help stop the thread from slipping over the eye though using a twisted thread like uni does help as well, . If you use a flat thread then just spinning the bobbin to tighten it up helps though waxing your thread is as important..I hope this helps you.. All the very best Davie

[@mazman8343]

Hi davie did you ever fish this pattern. Classic thanks for your time and hard work

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi max man, I have fished these flies but mostly without the legs and they can fish really well.. I tied these for friends that fish the lochs and that's why I put the legs on them as they did catch on them especially the one in the video.. All the very best Davie

[@МаксимВячеславов-х5л]

Please fly Hegene and montage

[@ronuhlenhopp9368]

Recommendations on fishing this pattern, since it is much bulkier than a soft hackle wet with a slim body? Ron.

[@JohanPieterse-y5p]

Hi Davie What can I use if I can not find antron. Appreciate

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi @user-oe6jo7wy1f , I have attached a link to Gary Lafontaine actually tying his caddis pupa and he talks about the Antron he uses, it's a great video and worth watching as it will give you the idea of the material that you should look for.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGnKhaGvjdlnZs0 All the very best Davie

[@JohanPieterse-y5p]

Thanks appreciate Davie

[@MrBp2404]

How should the caddis pupa be fished ? like dry or subsurface or deep nymph ?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Bala, I have attached a link to Gary Lafontaine tying and fishing his patterns so I hope you enjoy it.. All the very best Davie.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5LIlaywZ9apbc0

[@MrBp2404]

Dave, Love all your fly tying video's. You are an inspiration. Thank you!!

[@mazman8343]

Hi Davie I'm sorry to say I need your help please where in the UK or any where can I get this yarn. All the best from lough mask

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Man Man, I've attached links to materials that are much the same as I used to tye the Fontaine Caddis, I hope this is of some help to you...I hope one day I'll have a chance to fish the famous lough Mask... All the very best Davie.. www.anglingactive.co.uk/semperfli-micro-straggle-string-spools.html www.jsflyfishing.com/rumpf-hi-vis-antron-fibers

[@carljones5811]

Hi Dave, I obsessed over this pattern the first time I saw Gary LaFontaine tie it, looking everywhere for "puff", and "dazzle air" or whatever the Antrim yarn is. What I would like to know is, have you fished it in the UK and have you had much success with it? Cheers

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Carl, I have fished it on the river and caught an odd fish but I've caught a lot more on the lochs as the caddis hatches are slightly better..I've also tyed it for friends that fish in Ireland and they love it especially in claret, olive and fiery brown coloured bodies...It is a great pattern and should be in everyones box when caddis are hatching.. All the very best Davie..

[@WATTSROBIN]

@@DavieMcPhail Absolutely deadly fly on the Tarvie lochs. I tied it with an amber body and white antron shroud. I tied it originally on a B100G hook, # 10 but had problems with the hook straightening so moved to a slightly heavier hook.

[@randellgribben9772]

question, how many years have you been tieing flys?

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Randell, I started tying flies in February 1983 when I was 19 years old so I have been tying now for over 37 years.. ATB Davie..

[@soniq51]

Thats what i wanted to see for a long time! :) Great tie! Sir Lafontaine said to use extra amount of antron on the bubble, then cut a bit for the tail, this way it moves more natural, what do you think about that? What is that UV Micro Fritz's distributor name?? I'm your big fan Mr. Davie, as always perfection (those pheasant legs just stomped me! with inspiration :))

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Krzysiek Stefanczyk, When I first started tying Gary's fly I never had his book for info on how to the it, I only had a photo so this is the way I thought it was tied...The fly I tied caught many fish so I kept tying it the same way because of this. There's many good tyings of Gary's flies on youtube, I'm glad you like it.. I have attached a link to the same fritz I used in the video.. All the very best Davie... www.funkyflytying.co.uk/shop/products/micro-straggle-uv/697/

[@Relikt59]

☺👍

[@briandecoster6939]

Hi Davie, i'm a big fan of you! i've seen that you use a lot of the SLF dubbing in your caddis flies. Can you tell me wich SLF dubbing you use in this pattern? Thank you Davie! Keep up the good work! ;)

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Brian, I'm glad you enjoy the videos and thank you for the kind words...I have attached links to the SLF and SLF Dave Whitlock dubbing which are the ones I use most other than natural dubbings... All the very best Davie.. www.johnnorris.co.uk/slf-dubbing.html hareline.com/dws.html

[@Fraser1661]

Is that the new Loon Ergo scissors Davie.....

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Fraser, I was using their razor scissors which are very good...I have attached a link to them for you to see... All the very best Davie.. loonoutdoors.com/product/razor-scissors-4in/

[@kentowakai1234]

Dude! You were in America and you didn't tell me?!

[@DavieMcPhail]

Hi Kento Wakai, It was a few years ago before I started the videos on youtube, if you come to Scotland let me know as you would be very welcome to visit my home... All the very best Davie.

[@mosik_mo]

Круто, обязательно свяжу

[@kiyoshilengyel4747]

5//5.. ;))

[@МаксимВячеславов-х5л]

Hegene nimf

[@virnasimonato7219]

Ma chi ha tradotto questo video? Non si capisce nulla!!!! Pessima traduzione...disturba la visione ed è incomprensibile!!