Tying Euro Nymphs: the Peeping Caddis

Cased caddis are very common in our rivers and they're quite adept at moving around with their cases. Caddis use specific types of materials to build their cases, some being bits of wood, others sand and small stones. The look will vary from one river to the next depending on their substrate. That gives us license to vary the body construction to suit.

Materials List:
Hook: Dohiku J #8
Bead: 3.8 - 4mm tungsten slotted
Thread: Veevus dark brown
Head: Hot Chartreuse floss or yarn
Hackle: Partridge
Body: Wapsi pine squirrel mix or various colours of rabbit

[oak]

I’ve had good luck with the hobby/craft knives with replaceable blades. It’s a long pencil like tool, with blades .25 each.

Aside from that you could burn off the material (never tried). A chemical could be used too as a soak but I’d be more skeptical

[keithr]

Nice one Peter. Moving soon so all my tying stuff is in boxes. Soon as I get reset, I’m going to give this one a whirl. You mentioned reclaiming hooks from old flies? I thought of doing that and did try once. Found it difficult not to really scuff up the hook however. Tried exactlo-knife, razor blades, a lighter? Hooks came out really beat up. Got discouraged and never tried it again. Maybe you have some suggestions? Hooks can be expensive. I’m all for saving a dime when I can. Thanks.