Front End Loader Caddis

During practice for the 2013 World Fly Fishing Championship in Norway, I found that the brown trout preferred flush riding dry flies in the low gradient rivers we were fishing.

However, the caddis patterns I had with me which rode flush were poor at floating tungsten nymph droppers.

I have long been a fan of Quigley’s Hackle Stacker style mayfly patterns. I figured the flush riding but buoyant hackle on these patterns would create the perfect combination when added to an elk hair wing to make my Front-End Loader Caddis.

I ended up catching many of my fish in Norway on this pattern and it is still my go-to caddis pattern to appeal to discerning fish while still being able to float tungsten nymphs.