Umpqua Mercer's Z-Wing Caddis Gold Bead Fly

Overview

The Z-Wing Gold Bead is a caddis pupa pattern from Mike Mercer, Umpqua's West Coast signature tyer. The gold bead adds weight and a bit of flash to help it get down and catch a trout's eye.

Before a caddis hatch, the pupae leave their cases, drift along the bottom and then swim to the surface, and trout chase them through the whole water column. This fly covers that stage, and its green color matches the bright-bodied caddis found on many rivers. Umpqua lists it for California and Colorado.

Euro Specs

• Role: Dropper, below a dry or above a heavier anchor fly.

How to Fish It

• Dead drift: fish it near the bottom before the hatch, under an indicator or on a tight line.
• Swing it: let it rise and swing at the end of the drift to imitate a pupa heading for the surface.
• Dry-dropper: hang it below a caddis dry during the hatch.
• When: spring through fall, often in the afternoon and evening.

Choosing Color and Size

This listing is Green in size 14, a match for the green-bodied caddis that are common on western and eastern trout streams.