AK Best of Boulder, Colorado needs no introduction for most fly tyers. His books-production fly tying, AK’s fly boxAnd Advanced fly tying– are required reading for anyone serious about fly tying for trout. He is also friends with John Gierach, who has mentioned Best in many of his stories and articles.
In this great video, Tim Flagler from Tightline productions shows you how to tie Best’s simple, cool caddis fly imitation with spent wings. The main feature is a downward facing wing that wraps around the Dubbe’s body and Tim’s method of ensuring the feather stays where it is makes the bow tie very durable. So pack a few for those evenings when the caddis flies jump in to the delight of the trout.
AK Best Used Caddis
Hook: Your favorite dry fly hook (here a Fulling Mill 5050), size 16.
Thread: Tan, 6/0 or 70 denier.
Body: Tan Beaver Sync.
Wing: Bleached Hungarian partridge or mallard breast feather.
Adhesive #1: superglue.
Chop: Brownish grizzly bear, cropped on the ground.
Tool: Plunger-style hackle tongs, fine-tipped bodkin, whip-edged tool