Rainbow Bead Peeping Caddis

The Peeping Caddis a great early season river nymph pattern.  It represents a cased caddis that crawls among the stones on the river bed.  The head of the larva peeps out from its home and hence the imitation is known as the peeping or peeking caddis.  Often the fly is tied with white or yellow yarn to represent the peeping head of the real insect.  The ones I have tied here use bright beads instead. I have these beads in a variety of colours.

Gold Peeping Caddis

The beads I am using are made of plastic so they do not add weight to the hook end of the fly.  All the weight is at the eye where the lead shot is positioned. On these flies I decided to use quite a large shot but you can use lighter ones if you like.

Pink Peeking Caddis

Pink is a really popular colour for grayling fishers in the winter months and takes its share of trout too.  We don’t have any grayling in Ireland but if we did I think the pink peeking caddis might be just the thing.

Oval bead Peeping Caddis selection