Payczech Nymph – Caddis Larvae Pattern

The Payczech Nymph is a Czech Style nymph imitating caddis larvae. Tied according to Czech rule (slim, heavy, shellback, curved hook) and is ideally consisting of a hook, thread, weight, shellback, rib, abdomen, thorax, and head.

Due to a heavy snow pack year in Utah this past season, runoff seemed like it would never end. So rather than whine about a lack of “normal” fishing conditions on my favorite freestone this summer, I decided to do something about it. The Payczech is a simple fly to tie, does not require Jedi powers to fish, and is a money fly on rivers and streams where caddis larvae are present. Fish it in any one of the European styles to your liking or even under an indicator, just don’t try to fish it dry (it’ll never work).

Recipe:

Thread: 6/0 Danvilles

Hook: Sz.8-16 Curved Scud/Pupa

Weight: Adhesive backed lead foil

Shellback: Tan 1/8″ Scud Back

Rib: 5x mono

Abdomen: Custom Dub (email us if you are crazy anal and want the recipe)

Thorax: Black Ostrich Herl

Head: Thread

Fishing Info:

Caddis larvae are found in many colors,sizes, and environments. Turning over rocks in most freshwater streams will reveal caddis larva and it’s no wonder that fishermen will catch fish with these flies every month of the year. They are NUMEROUS!

Fish these flies (and czech nymphs in general) anytime you need to get near the bottom of the river where the fish are feeding. Sometimes fish will shy away from split shot so it helps to have a few flies with the weight incorporated into the body of the fly to avoid this.

Czech nymphing and other European techniques are slowly picking up steam in the states and it’s no wonder the Czechs, French, and others dominate the competition. Their respective techniques are deadly and if we’re gonna be honest with ourselves: Does anything bad come out of Europe (besides Hasselhoff!).

Step by Step:

:11 begin by wrapping your adhesive backed lead foil

:45 If you wish to add a second layer of lead foil you can do so now

1:12 smooth out any burrs in the lead foil

1:23  Start your thread at the head. Be sure to cover up the lead with your thread leaving a smooth underbody

1:37 Catch in your shellback material (here I’m using 1/8 tan scud back). 1:57 Keep in mind that you want a thin profile in the abdomen and thorax if you are going to tie according to Czech rule (unless you’re feeling rebellious and above the law)

2:17  Catch in your rib material next. 5x standard mono works nicely here. (Deep thought: Is it counterproductive to rib your flies with flouro?)

2:42 Dub your body material on. I’m using a wicked house blend here.

2:50 make a few wraps behind your rib before dubbing up the abdomen

3:27 cover up the lead underbody with your dubbing material

3:55 Catch in two or three ostrich herl strands at the beginning of the thorax to suggest legs

5:06 Wrap herl forward  to just behind the eye and tie off.

5:22 Heat up your bodkin in order to burn the herl fibers on top of the thorax

5:29 Gently touch your light saber errr bodkin to the top and burn only the herl fibers on top of the thorax

5:39 If you did it correctly, the thorax should now look like this

6:05 Apply CCG or your favorite UV resin to the top of the thorax to reinforce the herl and cure the resin with your uv torch

6:20 Bring the shellback material forward and tie off

6:48 Put in a half hitch or whip finish in prep for bringing up your rib.

7:15 Rib your body using six or seven wraps.  Use the “wiggle” method to rib through the legs so you don’t have any herl fibers protruding out (this step is optional if you don’t have OCD issues)

7:30 now tie off rib material just behind the eye

7:57  Whip finish and you’re ready to fish. Optional: Take a black sharpie to the thorax cover and apply and cure  uv resin to make your fly a little more appealing to the eye.