E/C Caddis
by Tom Knoth

Developed by Ralph Cutter, this modern caddis imitation is quickly becoming a favorite among many Sierra stream fisherman, and Cutter claims it to be "the best pattern I have ever come up with".  The "E/C" stands for "Emergent/Cripple"; the trailing Antron (or Zelon) tail imitates a trailing shuck and the brownish abdomen looks much like the portion of the pupal shuck with the caddis body still inside it.  The bright green thorax replicates the emerging portion of the adult body.  Although this fly is tied and sold in other colors, Cutter notes that without the dual tones of the green and brown, the fly falls off noticeably in effectiveness.

Regarding fishing this pattern, Cutter recommends: "Fish the E/C Caddis on a leader treated with fly floatant.  Treat the wing, hackle, and thorax with floatant but allow the posterior end of the fly to break the film.  It can be a difficult fly to see so you might consider tying a bright piece of yarn somewhere on the leader as a fly locator.  Fish it as a searching pattern between hatches or as a specific imitation during a caddis hatch.  If you shove the deer hair into a ninety degree post from the body it makes a pretty good mayfly emerger pattern."

E/C Caddis Tutorial

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