Puterbaugh Caddis

Don Puterbaugh often called the “sage of the Arkansas river” invented a simple to tie but very effective imitation called the Puterbaugh Caddis.  This pattern is often shown in the black foam version but it can be tied in other foam bodies to represent the caddis flies in your area.  I tie this pattern using olive, tan, black foam.  Useful sizes for our area are #14 – 18.  This pattern can also be tied on larger hook sizes to represent large stoneflies.  It is a simple to tie fly using only three materials. Insert  the hook, attach your thread and wrap back to the 3/4 part on the hook, wrap back towards the hook eye and stop at the 1/3 point.  Tie in the foam, next tie in fine deer or elk hair.  Finish the fly using hackle to represent the legs of the caddis.  You can glue the foam to the thread base if you wish.

Hook – Dry fly #14 -18

Thread – 8/0 use a color to match the body color of the fly

Body – 2 mm foam in black, tan or olive (I use 1 mm razor foam on size 16 and smaller).

Hackle – Brown or color to match the natural.

John Lazar

Fly tied by John Lazar