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Materials
| Hook: |
Daiichi 1260, size 14 |
| Thread: |
Brown 8/0 |
| Bead: |
Gold 3/32" bead |
| Underbody: |
Pearl crystal flash |
| Body: |
"Poopah Tan" Vernill |
| Legs: |
Partridge fibers |
| Antennae: |
Wood duck flank fibers |
| Head: |
Brown ostrich herl |
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Fox Poopah
The Fox Poopah has become a fly shop staple as an emerging caddis
pupa. I believe it was created by Rick Fox. It’s an easy pattern to
tie, and is deadly during caddis emergence periods. I usually carry
this fly in sizes 14, 16, and 18, tied with olive, tan, or orange
bodies.
I always recommend tying at least a half dozen of a pattern when you
sit down at the bench. You will save time in the long run, and your
flies will be more uniform in appearance. It’s a real time saver to
lay out your materials in a logical manner before beginning that
first fly. The Fox Poopah is no exception. Before beginning, cut six
¾” long pieces of vernille. Using a lighter or a butane match, singe
one end of each piece of vernille slightly, so that it tapers to a
point. Set these aside. Take an ostrich plume, cut a dozen herls
from the stem, and set these aside. Cut a 10” long piece of fine
gold wire, to be used for the ribbing. Segregate 6 hooks and 6 gold
beads, and cut a 10” piece of .015 lead wire. Now you are ready to
begin tying this beauty.
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Instructions
- With the hook bare, place bead on hook, and
apply 10 turns of .015 lead. Push the lead into the wider hole of
the bead.
- Cover lead with thread, building a “dam”
behind the lead to hold it in place. Cover the rest of the shank,
going ½ way down the bend with thread.
- Tie in gold wire and 3 strands of crystal
flash, and move the thread forward to the bead.
- Take the 3 strands of crystal flash and wind
them forward, covering the hook. Tie these off behind the bead.
- Move the thread back to a point 1/8” behind
the bead, and tie in a piece of vernille with the singed end
pointing out behind the hook. The tip of the vernille should
extend about 1/16” behind the hook. Trim the butt of the vernille
closely.
- Rib the vernille tightly with the gold wire.
If the vernille moves around the hook, pull it back and make the
next wrap of gold wire tighter than the last. Tie the wire off
where the vernille was tied in.
- Strip the fuzz from the butt end of a
partridge feather. Cut the tip out of the feather, leaving a “V”
shaped piece. Place the “V” over the shank at the point where the
vernille was tied in; holding the barbules tightly in place there,
take 3 tight wraps around them. The legs should be pointing down
and to the rear. Trim the butt of the feather off.
- Take a well marked wood duck flank feather
and cut 2 barbs from it, taking care to keep them even. Tie them
in at spot where the vernille was tied in, making them point to
the rear, sticking out slightly beyond the tip of the vernille.
- Tie in two ostrich herls by the butt end,
and wrap them forward to the bead. Tie them off there, and whip
finish.
Fish this puppy as an emerger, allowing it to rise from the bottom
to the top at the end of the drift.
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