The Panfish Caddis - "Big Scrappy"

The Panfish Caddis - "Big Scrappy"
April 4, 2019

Here’s a not-so-little twist on Al Troth's classic, the “Elk Hair Caddis.”

There’s no disputing the success of Mr. Troth’s EHC; it’s been a go-to trout fly for decades.
But what if we tried it with other fish, and maybe try a few variations?
Well, that’s how Big Scrappy came about.

The first thing I wanted to try was to tie the thing BIG - in this case, size 8.
But don’t stop there; I’ve gone to 6’s and 4’s, too.
The idea of biggie-sizing this fly came from Dietrich Bohnhorst, and a fly he calls, “The Handbrush”... 

It’s basically the same thing - a super-sized EHC he casts when large mayflies are on the water.

If you've been around Palmetto Fly n Fish for any length of time, you have probably seen Dietrich before - he's one of my personal favorite vidloggers.
You can see his "Handbrush" here:

The Handbrush

The second difference I’ve incorporated is the orange body you see in the pic... it’s a sliver of EVA foam, aka, “craft foam.” I work that in to get extra flotation.

The name “Big Scrappy” also has meaning - it comes from the fact that it’s tied with what are basically scraps from around the bench.

Big Scrappy

- Hook - # 8 Mustad Aberdeen, VERY fine wire

Purchased in re-packaged bulk form, these hooks have no logo, or status label.
No aggressive, lip-rippin' name is on them
No one brags about them on Facebook.
They’re bastards; they’re scrap hooks.

- Tail/shuck - a small piece of Krytsal Flash found lying on the work station.
This is literally scrap.

- Body - craft foam and muskrat dubbing.
The foam was cut from a small left-over piece I had in my foam box.
Same with the muskrat - pulled out underfur left over from another tie.
More scrap.

- Hackle - Tied too long, and ragged. This is from a cape that was previously stripped of the “good stuff,” probably for one of those “100 Fly,” hackle packs.
The cape is basically a throw away that I paid a few bucks for on eBay.
Scrap, again.

- Wing - deer hair from a thin strip of hide I cut off for something, a while back.
I didn’t like the result I got when I tried it, so I tossed it aside.
It was laying under some other stuff, forgotten.
Yep, you got it....bench scrap.

Why do this? Why use these scraps?
2 reasons...

1. I’m a cheap guy.
I hate to waste anything that might have some use left in it. 

I prefer to call this, being “frugal,” but hey, whatever.

2. This “scrappy” fly catches fish!
Warm water fish, especially, don’t know this is a scrap fly. 

However, they DO know there are often large insects in the water and they will grab this with the same gusto they have for those.

Something else Big Scrappy has going for it is the combination of deer hair, hackle, and foam.
Together, this makes a good FLOATING fly, one that makes a nice disturbance in the water, without being intrusive.
If fish are looking up - as they usually are in the warmer months - this gets their attention.
If fish are being selective - as they usually are in the warmer months - this appeals to them.

I consider it a good companion to the usual panfish bugs.

So, if you're looking for something a little different, don’t toss out those scraps.

Move over poppers.... because here comes Big Scrappy! 

Thanks and Tight Lines, 

David 

Palmetto Fly N Fish, ©2019 

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