Tim Fox’s caddis pupa uses tapered vernille over pearl tinsel, a wire rib and sparse feather details.
Tim Fox designed the Poopah as an active caddis-pupa imitation. This orange colorway follows a published orange material list and the construction Tim described in a California Fly Fisher interview.
Work through the numbered steps in order, using the materials list and written proportions as your guide.
01
Seat bead and body materials
Slide the copper bead to the eye and start black thread behind it. Bind gold wire and pearl tinsel along the shank to the bend, leaving their working lengths free at the rear.
Bench note Make a smooth base so the pearl underbody lies flat.
02
Make the pearl underbody
Wind the pearlescent tinsel forward in close turns to cover the shank up to the thorax position. Secure and trim it while keeping the wire loose at the bend.
Bench note The reflective layer should remain visible under the ribbed vernille.
03
Set the orange abdomen
Away from the hook, taper and round one end of a short orange vernille length with controlled heat. Bind its other end at the front so the tapered tip extends just beyond the bend.
Bench note Let the heated material cool before bringing it near the tying thread.
04
Rib the body
Spiral the gold wire forward in four or five open turns, holding the orange vernille against the pearl underbody. Secure the wire at the front and trim the waste.
Bench note The rib should hold the vernille down without flattening it.
05
Add legs and antennae
Bind a sparse group of partridge fibers beneath the front of the body as legs. Tie two wood-duck fibers along the top so their tips angle backward as long antennae.
Bench note Leave enough room behind the bead for the collar.
06
Wrap the ostrich collar
Tie in black ostrich herl and make a few compact collar turns behind the bead, stroking fibers rearward. Secure the herl, whip finish and clear the hook eye.
Bench note Use a sparse collar so the legs and antennae remain distinct.
Beyond the bench
On the water.
Dead-drift the pupa, then let it lift and swing at the end of the drift when caddis are emerging. Tim Fox also describes fishing it under a dry fly and adjusting weight to the water.