Pink Cahill
By Elaine Cook
Pink Cahill
By Elaine Cook
The South Fork of the Snake River is a popular destination for many dry fly fishermen. Simultaneous multiple hatches frequently occur in summer months. It's easy to fix on the largest insect coming off of the water and to tie on an imitation of the natural, only to find that not even one of the multitudes of rising fish will show interest in your offering. This little pink pattern can be what the fish have keyed on. Give it a try on the South Fork of the Snake and elsewhere throughout the west.
Hook: Tiemco TMC100, sizes 14-20 (standard dry fly hook) (on the Snake, try sizes 18-20)
Thread: Tan 8/0
Wing: Mallard flank dyed lemon yellow (imitation wood duck)
Tail: Pale ginger hackle fibers
Body: Tannish pink poly
Hackle: Pale ginger
1. Crimp barb.
2. Attach thread halfway back on the shank.
3. Gather 20 to 40 dyed mallard flank feather fibers (fewer for smaller flies), and even the tips up before cutting the fibers from the feather stem.
4. Tie the dyed mallard fibers on top of the hook shank so they are about one hook shank long with the tips extending forward over the eye. Stand the fibers upright and take several thread wraps tight against the base of the fibers in front. Divide the fibers and take figure eights with the thread to form two delta wings.
5. Select 8 to 16 stiff fibers for the tail (fewer for smaller flies) and even the tips before cutting them from the hackle stem. If you have spade hackles in the right color, they will work best. Measure fibers one shank length and tie that length on the rear of the shank with the tips extending over the bend of the hook. The butt ends of the tail fibers should extend forward to the butt ends of the wing fibers. One wrap of thread can go under the tail fibers to keep them secure on the top of the shank.
6. Dub the body material halfway up the hook shank.
7. Select a hackle with barbs equal to 1 1/2 hook gap. Cut the end of the stem to remove fuzz and webby fibers. Cut 3 or 4 barbs close to the stem on each side of the butt of the hackle feather. Tie in this prepared feather at the front of the dubbed section, with the concave side of the hackle closest to the hook shank.
8. Continue dubbing the body forward to one eye length behind the eye.
9. Wrap hackle forward with about 4 turns behind the wing and 3 in front of it. Tie off and cut excess hackle tip.
10. Form a small head with the tying thread, whip finish, cut thread and apply head cement if desired.