Tying the McPhail Emerger Caddis by Davie McPhail

[bevanlurito]

Sir,

You are an inspiration.

Cheers!

Shaun Solomon,

Denver Colorado

[297314504]

Hey davie,

I couldn't find any sparkle yarn anywhere, so I got yellow ice yarn instead. Do you know if that will work?

Love your videos,

Sara

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Sara (297314504),

Yes it would work well but if you can mix it in to a softer dubbing like rabbit or something this would get it very close to the yarn...

All the best Davie

[297314504]

@DavieMcPhail

thanks davie, i will try that.

[chuckgrunt100]

Davies, where do you get your stick on ribbon weight?

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi chuckgrunt100,

I'll send you a link to the lead tape which I used in the video...ATB Davie 

[memmnock]

Hi davie, where do you get that sparkle yarn for the body or is there a substitute you can use?

Arthur.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Arthur,

I will send you a link to a sparkle yarn I found on the internet that looks o.k..The yarn that I have, I bought in America when I was over a few years ago..ATB Davie

[MTGallagher]

Greetings Davie,

MTGallagher, over here in Arkansas (Mountain Home - White River), USA, with diluted Logan and MacLennan blood :-) Is this Emerger Caddis unique to Scotland or would it work here in the states, as this fly is the only one I have seen.

A magnificent fly and I can not wait to attempt it, and to share the video.

Tight Lines

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi MTGallagher,

It's just a pattern that I tye which has caught me a few fish over the years and I'm sure will catch in most waters, another pattern worth tying is the one I call the Chunky Caddis which I would say has caught me more fish that any of the caddis patterns I have tyed and fished..Please let me know how you get on with it..

All the best Davie

[MTGallagher]

@DavieMcPhail Thanks...Stopped by the local flyshop, now owned by a NZ brother of the long-rods...suggested colorations unique to the upper part of our end of the River.

Perhaps those across the big pond can help. There was a pattern I was watching within the past 2 weeks and I do not think it was Davie's or Topflyman's channel. The accent was not a stateside on, but the fly appeared to be a Sedge variant, with "pseudo-hackle" over the top to mimic air bubbles. Has anyone seen this?

[mlibe22911]

unbelievable davie!

I started tying my own flies because of your videos. After watching so many of your video I am curious: what stand do you have? It looks so easy to inspect your flies with your mount.

Cheers,

Matt

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Matt,

I'm very happy to hear that I encouraged you to start tying your own flies it is a great hobby..I use a Law vise which unfortunately is no longer made..

All the best Davie

[akaeldin]

you are one of the best teachers on tying flies,do you have dvd out? thank you for all the knowledge you share to many. what part of the world are you in as i am in canada.thanks.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi akaeldin,

I do have a Dvd but to be honest with you there's better flies here on youtube..I live in a town called Ayr which is 30 miles southwest of Glasgow which as I'm sure you know is in Scotland...Thankyou for the kind words about my videos...

All the best Davie

[MrTruthhurts777]

Hi Davie,

A terrific emerger pattern and a great video. Must tie up some to try on my local rivers where sedges play an important summer role for the trout. Might see you at some of the flytying shows in the near future. I will be tying at the Loughs Agency this month but unfortunately I will miss the BFFI in June.

Warmest regards from Ireland.

Peter Dunne.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Peter,

Chuffed that you liked the fly..I've no plans for doing any shows but maybe in the future...

All the best Davie

[joelsflugor]

Hi davie

very nice fly there man, that is the most beautiful fly I ever seen in my entire life.

Again very nice

tight lines

Joel Björn

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Joel Björn,

Thankyou for the kind words..

All the best Davie

[DrDave244]

Wow. Very nice. I'm an entomologist, and I LOVE the detail you put in to your flies. You really made that abdomen look like an abdomen. I don't know if the fish appreciat it, but this entomoligist sure does! Thank you for so many wonderful videos.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi DrDave244,

Thankyou for the kind words about the flies that I tye. I did look closely at the real nymph and found that this was the best result I got from a few different versions I tried and didn't spend too long tying it..The fish do like this colour combination tyed in a few sizes, also worth tying is a dark olive variant of this pattern...

Many thanks again...

All the best Davie

[scallen2112]

This is absolutely beautiful. I am about to start trying my hand at tying. I have picked three flies to start and ordered the material for just those three. This is one of them. Hey, I might as well try for something nice at the start. With this excellent instructional video, I might even be able to do it. Thank you, David. Please keep the videos coming. You do a great job of explaining what you are doing, and I think helping a lot of people like me.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi scallen2112,

I'm glad you are enjoying the videos, if you have any problems please let me know...

All the best Davie

[yr4m2pro]

Hello Dave, i'm a newbie fly tyer. I am thoroughly enjoying your demonstrations on various patterns. Would it be too much trouble to start adding your recipes to your posts? Maybe it's been asked before, but it would sure be helpful.

[MrAthlunkard]

hi dave you might have a video on the baetis nymph .or how to tie it  mike

[Flyfishingfriend1968]

Wow David

again a great video of you.

Wonderfully your Caddis.

Many thanks for it Best regards. Steffen

[drunktoad111]

beautifull fly

[leaperfish]

What a fly!! I'll try one now!

[zenbooter]

what an inspiration you are to all of us,it's the way you articulate those fingertips,,and whoa,, the art that emerges.

[MrThompers]

This patern is absolutely deadly. I've caught trout on every one of your paterns that I've tied. They seem to work when nothing else does! You're a master tyer and instructor and my tying has improved tremendously since I began watching these videos. Thanks for sharing your talent.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi MrThompers,

I appreciate the kind comments, thankyou..Well done on the fishing..

All the best Davie

[skipperfox007]

Hi Davie, I run out of words when i watch your videos this fly looks like it would crawl away if you let go of it, its no wonder you catch plenty of fish they think there eating the real thing. Regards Alan

[Honeebuket]

Wouldn't that go upside down though? Since you put the lead on top of the fly, i imagine it would swim upside down..?

[Honeebuket]

By far the coolest fly

[bburns548twins]

beautifull work..

[cancerkid888]

Is this yellow sparkle yarn? I guess it just doesn't look it in the video.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi cancerkid888,

Yes it is yellow sparkle yarn which is the one that has worked best for me...

All the best Davie

[CSSoliman]

@DavieMcPhail

Hi Davie!

Where can I buy the yellow sparkle yarn (Video: McPhail Emerger Caddis)? Or is a replacement possible?

Thanks for Info CS

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi CSSoliman,

I will send you a link to some sparkle yarn that I found on the internet...

All the best Davie

[chiefen75]

Now thats a gorgeous fly!

[pr0t0srok]

ur a pro

[rcflybry]

Davie..

I'd bite on that myself and I'm not even a fish! It looks that realistic!

Best wishes whether fishing or tying at the vise..

God Bless!!

Bryan

[pferdflecker]

We are so lucky to have you teaching us these patterns.....

[flyfishextreme]

ART ON A HOOK!!! thx, for all the great videos!! greetings from austria!

[NiNj4k0S]

12:16

what a look!

Dave you are amazing!

Thank you for your lovely videos, one more time!

[WEESTRAWZ]

Hi davie,

great fly.

One question, how do you get your lead foil cut so straight?

Thanks

~David

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi David,

When using scissors to get a straight cut always look at the points of the scissors and not the cutting edge, and if you can use a larger pair like the ones I use in the video..

All the best Davie

[flyfishJJA]

@DavieMcPhail @WEESTRAWZ A paper cutter works wonders for such operations.

[greenhead1995]

Hey davie you are an amazing tyer and I just wanted to ask you where can you get that lead foil material and what would be range of sizes to tie this pattern in

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi greenhead1995,

I buy my lead foil from the Glasgow Angling Centre, I believe that you can also buy it from golf pro shops as a way to add weight to balance the clubs. I've tyed this pattern down to a size 14 and up to a size 8..

All the best Davie

[jerfresh09]

amazing.. :]]

[1nf0fr34k]

Absolutely beautiful. Nice Pattern Dave ^^

[zanderjeger]

Fly Tying we wspaniałej formie! Można patrzeć bez końca. PERFEKCJA!

[nebe9381]

My favorite emerger caddis by far, great use of the shell back davie! I tie them with black back and green uniyarn as well. Works great on spring freestone rivers in the western us.

[friluftpaafilm]

WOW!

[donegalflyfisher]

Thanks again davie i'll definately get the books and i'll keep you posted on any more very successful days with your brilliant patterns.

[donegalflyfisher]

Hi davie,

Really love your flies i've tied loads of them. Your very first fly on youtube, the pheasant tail nymph has caught me loads of fish so has the green peter best day i had 24 trout on them. I had a 12lb springer on a red frances tied on a single kamazan bait hook slightly different though with a GP shrimp tail and no hackle stalks.

I'm from ireland and i was wondering if you could recommend a book that explains the life cycle of insects in the rivers/lakes

Thanks........

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi donegalflyfisher,

Well done on your success in the fishing that was all down to you..There's two books I would recommend that I have is Waterside Guide: The Angler's Pocket Reference to the Insects of Rivers and Lakes - How to Identifiy Them and Choose the Matching Artificial by John Goddard the other would be by your own Peter O'Reilly's Flyfishing in Ireland which is one of my favourites..

All the best Davie

[zmajski777]

amazing! a real fly

[14kreese]

Wow.

[NiNj4k0S]

you are great Davie!

[yourmotherFer]

Hello Davie.

Awesome technique. I live on the east coast of USA. Your pattern killed on the caddis rivers and streams here in eastern Pennsylvania. Me and a long time fly fishing friend, used nothing but these guys all day and  i lost count, but between us both we had well over 50 trout. Mostly wild ones. Bumping bottom and on the swing. I tied it in cream, and brown. Also tied one up green and black. This color combo was the deadlier of the two. Thank you for the McPhail killer pupa

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Everyone,

Many thanks again for kind words, if you do well with the pattern could you please let me know...

All the best Davie

[CurtisTarwater]

Outstanding!!! I am simply in awe of your talent and innovative techniques. I learn something every time I watch one of your videos. In this one video I learned about 6 new techniques I can practice. Many thanks for the fantastic demonstrations and keep them coming!

Cheers!

Curtis

[txflytier]

Hi Davie

Great looking fly. Love the way the wool makes the scud back look.

Thanks for the great video

Chance

[0bi0ne]

Hi Davie,

All of your tyings are exceptional and you make it look so easy, but this one is exceptional!

Any chance of doing a klinkhammer that a beginner can follow?

Cheers

Tony

[fishinwflies]

Great tie. Good video.

[r1978m]

Wonderful Davie, could you leave out the lead and use it as a surface emerger?

[serbification]

i would say yes. i've tied it both klinkhammer style and cdc bubble (brown or dark olive cdc). just use your favourite light(er) hook and skip the lead. on the klinkhammer you can use your parapost material to build up the tapered body. or just wind more wraps with the yarn.

[shanksi105]

As always Davie a cracking fly. Will need to head to GAC for some hooks & scud back.  What else could be used for the body?

Ian

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Ian,

If you can source the wool then buy it but if you can't then just go to a wool shop and buy one that has both natural and synthetic fibres in them..

All the best Davie

[DGAF2000]

hay does anyone know of a nice small attractor stone fly nymph that could be tied in 14?

[spieone03]

Great fly davie. What size hook were you using, Im a new tyer and I tried it on a sz14 scud, lets just say it did'nt look like yours, LOL. Any tips on which size I should try. Thanks again.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi spieone03,

I was using a size 8 so that most could see the way it's dressed mush easier. The best sizes to have in your box are from 14s to 10s with a few bigger as this pattern tyed in most natural colours and sizes will represent a few species..

All the best Davie.

[newlabber]

Hi Davie, thanks for responding, you have given me an awful lot of pleasure with your fly tying, Glad to be of some little help in return.

Best Peter.

[newlabber]

Hi again, oops.

I was responding to the enquiry about the lead tape. Wapsi list it in the online catalogue in their Body Material section.

Like Veniards they do not sell direct to the public only through the retailer.

Peter.

[newlabber]

Hi Davie,

Wapsi in the USA have the lead tape listed in their body materials section. It would be available through their retail outlets.

Wapsi's catalogue is available on line and it may be helpful for your friends over 'ere to be aware and perhaps get through their local retailer

Love this fly.Are you going to reprise the emerger with the organza ribbon? Another of your great innovations.

All the best, Peter

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Peter,

Many thanks for the great info, I know a few out there that will be pleased to see this..I will redo the organza caddis in the future as I lost the orginal footage due to my hard drive packing in..

Many thanks..

All the best Davie

[mrbenowen1234]

Love it Davie such a brilliant skill you share.

Thank You.

[TommyGunjnr]

what time of the year wood you fish this davie ? lovley fly sure it wood catch a few :D

[fisterra66]

Impresionante Davie, eres un artista por todo lo alto. Gracias por tanta enseñanza.

[enfginho]

Thanks Davie...

[carpingbonkers]

Brilliant tying mate what a cracking looking beasty,should fool any fish looks so realistic thanks for sharing.

[pablohoney78]

Thats a beauty. It looks like it could be deadly. I'll have a go at tying it but i have a feeling it'll look slightly different hahaha.

[tdematteo01]

That's got to be one your best! Is it your own pattern design?

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi tdematteo01,

Thankyou, and yes this is one of my flies but I'm sure there will be one very close to it as there are many great tyers out there..

All the best Davie

[spieone03]

Another great tie. Amazing !!!

Thanks again !!!!

[jrlejeune]

Superb caddis pattern Davie!

[serbification]

WOW! this one was truly amazing. Have you come up with this pattern? If so. this one must carry your name!

Thanks for sharing!

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi serbification,

I'm glad you like the fly. Yes I did come up with this pattern and with your advice I changed the title at the top, I hate naming flies after myself as I feel the tying method used is more important..

All the best Davie

[door2yourheart]

That pattern is absolute genius! I'm thinking the gap between the wing buds and thorax will trap air bubbles to add to the realistic effect. Love the alternating wraps on the abdomen too! Of course other colour combos can be used too, brilliant pattern and tying, thanks as always, Davie!

[mick7662492]

hi davie fantastic looking fly keep up the good work your videos keep me inspired and at the vice on these long winter nights thanks again mick

[littleton911]

Hey Davie,

Awesome imatation. Can't wait to tie some up and give 'em a try next week-end.

Tight lines.

littleton911

[Kekermonger]

Wow Davie this is really an amazing fly! Quick question for you. Where can I find some of that flattened lead that you use for the body?

Thanks for the videos Davie! Keep them coming.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Kekermonger,

The lead tape you can buy from the Glasgow Angling Centre and a few other shops here in the U.K but I'm not sure where in the U.S.A. The company that makes it is 3M (Scotch Tape) , if you still can't get it, get back in touch..

All the best Davie

[SophieLovesLeon]

thats some tying davie amazing

[vt1100c2]

Wow that's really fine.

[MrFlyadz]

very nice davie thanks!!

thats gota catch

just lost a bid on your pheasant tail nymphs gutted!!!!

any chance of some more?

many thanks once again

[smithmccrum]

thanks davie a superb caddis, you keep on tying and i will keep on watching and learning, to the master happy wrappings, davy.

[blueridgebushcraft]

A great fly!... Thanks for demonstrating it... you have great tying style.

Ed

[MOez1976]

Thank you for sharing.

All the best

[vo2lvo]

Hi Davie

As I have said before to you the best of the best when it comes to Grayling or trout My favorite when it comes to fishing at all.

[Beastmastersb]

Thanks Davie is a great fly !!!!! you are my favorite !!!!!

[rp3543]

Great abdomen technique!

Thanks Davie

[jonmath1]

That is the best patterns I've seen in ages. I may try tying that abdomin method full length to form a Czech style nymph.

Thanks,

Jon