Tying the X Caddis Fishing Fly

A brilliant design by Mr Mathews. At the heart of this pattern – and close cousins like the sparkle dun – is Z Lon. Z Lon is a synthetic material made of tri-lobal fibers. These fibers are designed to reflect light directly back to the viewer, which results in a very bright material. The fibers themselves are shaped like a starfish with three (tri) appendages (or a propeller with three props) if you look at a cross sectional view. Antron (also a trilobal fiber) and poly (round) fibers also work, especially since Z Lon is no longer manufactured.

• Hook: Daiichi 1180 Dry Fly Hook, 12-20. https://www.discountflies.com/product/M-D1180.html
• Thread: SemperFli Nano Silk, 18/0. https://www.discountflies.com/product/M-SNS18.html
• Tail: SemperFli Poly Yarn. https://www.discountflies.com/...
• Body: SemperFli Kapok Dubbing (https://www.discountflies.com/product/M-SKDUF.html) or Raven and Wolf Micro Fine (https://www.discountflies.com/product/M-RWMFD.html)
• Wing: Nature’s Spirit X Caddis Deer Hair. https://www.discountflies.com/product/M-NSXHAIR.html