Grand River Fly

If you fish the Grand River in Southern Ontario with any degree of regularity, chances are you’ve run up against some of it’s big lock-jawed browns sipping caddis on, or near the surface. This can be a frustrating experience~for visiting and local anglers alike! There are a few ways to put the odds in your favor, one of them is to familiarize yourself with the work of Ian Martin.
Ian Martin is the author of “Fly Fishing the GRAND RIVER~the angler’s vest pocket guide” and is an entomologist, fly tier and Grand River angler. His patterns, the culmination of science and years spent fly fishing on the Grand, are truly what I consider “guide’s patterns.” Simple to tie, very successful. I attended a fly tying show years ago and was fortunate enough to be parked beside Ian while tied the fly pictured below. If memory serves, he described how this pattern was once a well-kept secret until someone he trusted (client?….don’t remember) spilled the beans. Fortunately for us~a glimpse into the fly box of an entomologist! I’ve had incredible success with this fly, but I don’t limit it’s use to the Grand River. In fact, I don’t limit it fishing caddis hatches either! I swap the dubbing/shuck colors to suit a number of mayfly hatches as well. How is that for a great pattern?
Experiment with this fly, have some fun!

Grand River Fly

Hook: standard dry fly hook #14-#18 (Tiemco #101 used here)
Thread: 8/0 color to suit (Rusty Dun used here)
Shuck: spooled antron (natural/off-white used here)
Body: dry fly dubbing, color to suit (Nature’s Spirit “caddis green” used here)
Wing: type #1 or #2 CDC, natural color



Start your thread and wind it down well onto the bend as shown. Begin dubbing the body, tapering thick to thin.




Prepare a length of antron. You’ll be using only 1/2-2/3 of the diameter that comes off of the spool or card. Using a lighter, singe the end. While its still hot, pinch it between your thumb and forefinger and roll it.


If you’re not pleased with the result~trim it off and try again. Position it on the hook as shown, you want it to envelope the back part of the shank. (fibers pointing forward on the sides, top and bottom)




Prepare 3-4 CDC feathers, aligning the tips as shown.




Tie them in at the tips so that the feathers curve upward as shown. Secure them with several tight wraps of thread. Continue dubbing the body of the fly working towards the eye of the hook.




Fold the group of feathers forward creating a “loop” shape as shown. Tie them down behind the eye of the hook, trim the excess. A small thread head, a couple of half hitches…some head cement~Done!