Monster Tube Caddis
A caddisfly imitation
Monster Tube Caddis ™ with it´s vibrant appearance has a strong effect on Atlantic salmon across the Norther Hemisphere. Especially large multi sea winter salmon is attracted to this fly in both big and smaller versions. We have had many anglers test-fishing this fly in various shades of brown – and have found that it is the light brown version that work best – We use Coch-Y-Bonddu feathers in light brown or ginger.
It is not necessary to match the hatch in all aspects. This Monster Tube Caddis ™ is more a caricature than an imitation of the limnephilidae caddisfly that it is meant to portrait Go to shop
See more images of the Limnephilidae caddisfly
Finnmark - Norway August 1994 the Caddisfly river
The hatch of the Monster Tube Caddis
Every year I fish the rivers of the very North of Norway during July and August. A special pool I fish seems to be a regular caddisfly incubator, with deep slow water at the head of the pool – Rocks protruding on the stretch of the river. When time is right 1000′s of caddisfly insects will rise from the river and climb to safety on the boulders – like that shipwrecked climbing onto the classic islands with only sand and that single palm-tree.
Small salmon hooked on Monster Tube Caddis – Note how the fly slides freely on the leader
It was with anticipation and to the beat of my heart I made my way down the narrow trail that led to the pool – The evening had been the start of the hatch of 100´s of caddisfly insects and the early gray-light of the morning had reveal a shoal of salmon that had moved into the pool during night.
During the day I had tied a crude looking version of a caddisfly imitation, and was now ready for the salmon that had settled in the pool. I was surprised to see that some of the fish had moved down to the tail of the pool. Normally I would only see salmon falling back at night-time – But these fish where acting just like brown trout on a summer’s day – feeding away on drifting caddisflies. I soon hooked up with salmon on the
dead-drifting caddisfly imitation that I named the Monster Tube Caddis Buy Monster Caddis flies
Read about the Monster Tube Caddis in Norwegian 
Two bright summer salmon caught on Monster Tube Caddis ™ during a big hatch of caddisfly – The river was literally crawling with insects and the local trout and salmon parr was eating away at the insects at a frantic speed… Salmon in the pool was acting like trout participating in the feast - Both fish was hooked first time seeing the fly..
The caddisfly – an overlooked insect in the world of salmon fishing
During summer many different hatching insects will make their way up from the river bed some more distinctive than others but all of significant interest to the salmon parr and its trout cousin. These freshwater insects with their many appearances serve as their main diet throughout the life as parr and the impact that they have on the growing salmon and trout is definitely a cornerstone in our fly fishing – But the caddisfly is rarely directly portrayed in flies for salmon. Both the larva and the adult insect is present at the river from spring to late autumn and especially on days with many insects on the water the salmon and trout parr will focus on the hunt for the caddisfly.
The real thing ! A two cm. (3/4 inch) big (not including the antennas) specimen from the limnephilidae family curing its wings. When fresh out of the river this caddisfly has a ginger color – after curring it becomes darker brown.
Dead drifting Monster Tube Caddis
Monster Tube Caddis ™ Seen from bellowWe fish the Monster Tube Caddis at absolute Dead-drift…but we have also received reports from various anglers in Canada and Norway who have had success with a stop and-go retrieve. The tail of the Monster Tube Caddis has strands of Mylar build in – We originally put the strands there to better be able to keep better track of the fly out on the dark water. Anglers fishing for landlocked salmon in Newfoundland has told us, how they caught more fish on the fly while the mylar was present – and then fewer fish when the strands of mylar eventually was pulled of by the fish
The Monster Tube Caddis a favored fly in Newfoundland
A fly pattern might be perfect for one kind of river, or it may be useful in one region and less so in another. After our initial success with the Monster Tube Caddis in the mid 90′s we made contact with some guides and anglers in Newfoundland. Some where skeptical towards the big insect imitation – but others immediately had success and called us to get new flies. Today the Monster Tube Caddis is widely used on rivers on Newfoundland and mainland Canada
Read more on the Monster Tube Caddis in Newfoundland
2010 Fishmadman competition winner
Winner of the 2010 Fishmadman competition Mr. Joakim Haugen from the North of Norway with a giant 17 kg. + salmon (37,7 lb) caught on the Monster Tube Caddis
See how to tie the Monster Tube Caddis
Tied on tube
Salmon dry flies on tube give the angler the opportunity to change the hook in more than one way. By using special knots rig’s on the hook you may also change the hooking abilities.
Here is an interesting way of generating a highly exposed hook on the Monster Tube Caddis – send to us by guide and dedicated angler Mr. Bill Bryden from Newfoundland
Note the steep angle the hook is sitting on this Monster Tube Caddis – That gives a deep hooking in the lower part of the jaw..
The hook used is a standard down-eye Mustad wet fly hook. The leader is coming out from below the eye.
Put line through hook eye from below – Make a single knot on the main line – Make a loop, and turn the end of the leader through the loop twice
Put the newly formed loop around the hook shank – coming from behind and forward
Tighten up and cut away excess line
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