Caddis Patterns in Fly Fisherman

A couple of our flies are featured in Fly Fisherman magazine this month. The article is titled ‘Twilight Caddis.’ Both patterns are designed for visibility, durability and floatability - the three most important attributes for just-before-dark caddis blizzards (a.k.a. the Bow and Columbia Rivers).

The L.P. Caddis stands for Life Preserver: it’s impossible to sink, usually floats right-side up, and will save the day when night approaches.

Dave takes credit for naming the other pattern. When I showed it to him and described it as sparsely dressed with a neatly clipped outline, he smiled from the front of the boat and said, “Just like a Brazilian.” The magazine edited that part out, but the reference is to female grooming habits. I’ll leave the rest to the Internet and your search engine of choice. Of course, the reference also could be to Brazilian Carnival and neon colors. Let political correctness be your guide …

Both patterns are flying off my vise this winter, along with another dozen or so staples. In between times I’m watching Dexter and training for a 50-mile ultra this spring. Don’t worry, I’m still harmless on the oars and the last blood spatter I analyzed was Rio’s urine. The Yellow Lab with more lives than Cat Woman just had a tumor removed from his hull. But he’s recovering nicely, his transom’s still ticking, and his bow wave swamps cookies as usual. He’s still perfecting the Warm Woodstove Tummy routine - a trick I expect will go on as long as he does. He’s gearing up for his 13th season and says hello to all.

We’re both excited about 2010, Olympics and otherwise. As Swami Dave says, the worst of the economic woes appear to be behind us and folks are itching to make up for lost time. D.B.O. will once again rule the Western Canadian currents, guiding on waters throughout Southern Alberta, southeastern B.C. and the West Kootenays. The guides you know and expect are back, though Derek might take a bit to shake the surfing bug after wintering in Nicaragua. He and Wil also harassed a few bonefish, and I suspect a few beers were tormented as well.

Meanwhile, stay tuned for more D.B.O.-inspired articles in other fly fishing magazines over the coming months. A couple of new patterns, a couple of tried-and-true techniques, the usual smattering of quasi-truths … Chris