A turkey-backed caddis pupa with a dubbed abdomen, bright rib, paired Z-Lon stubs and peacock head.
Mike Mercer’s Z-Wing Caddis places a turkey quill over a dubbed pupa body and uses paired Z-Lon wing stubs beside a peacock head. Charlie Craven’s full tying sequence informs this mint-green dressing.
Work through the numbered steps in order, using the materials list and written proportions as your guide.
01
Seat bead and rib
Place the copper bead at the hook eye. Start olive thread behind it, form a smooth base down the bend, and bind chartreuse wire along the far side with its free length extending rearward.
Bench note The far-side tie-in helps the first rib wrap pass underneath.
02
Set the turkey shellback
Cut a tapered slip from turkey tail about half a hook-gap wide at its narrow end. Tie it at mid-shank with its free length extending back, then bind the slip down to the rear of the thread base.
Bench note Keep the feather slip broad enough to cover the dubbed abdomen later.
03
Dub the abdomen
Wind a slim, tapered mint-green Antron body from the bend forward, stopping before the bead with room for the wing stubs and peacock head.
Bench note Do not fill the front space with dubbing.
04
Cover and rib the body
Draw the turkey slip forward over the abdomen and secure it slightly toward the near side. Spiral the wire forward in spaced turns over the slip, allowing the rib to center the turkey on top.
Bench note A little slack in the turkey prevents the rib from splitting it.
05
Tie paired Z-Lon stubs
Tie a short ginger Z-Lon strand at its midpoint in front of the abdomen. Sweep one end back on each side and bind the two stubs at a slight outward angle.
Bench note Trim the two sides only after both are secured.
06
Finish with peacock
Tie in several peacock-herl tips behind the bead and wind a compact head with three or four turns. Secure the herl, whip finish, and trim the Z-Lon stubs around mid-shank.
Bench note Keep the bead and hook eye free of stray fibers.
Beyond the bench
On the water.
Fish it as a caddis pupa dropper or a subsurface fly during caddis activity. Craven notes that it draws strikes through the water column; adjust the rig to the fish rather than relying on the bead alone.