Bastian's Floating Caddis

Cheech - November, 2018

I'll be honest, I didn't know about this fly until I saw it in the Fulling Mill catalog... (Yes, Fulling Mill is the main supplier for Orvis.) I think we have all been in that situation where the fish are aggressively rising during a caddis hatch, and your drag free drift is kind of not good enough anymore. I immediately was intrigued by the foam back and the soft hackle front because it was kind of the best of both worlds for these aggressive fish. Lots of times I'm torn between fishing dries in the surface film or greasing up a soft hackle, but this fly kind of covers that for you. Fish this fly on the swing, dead drifted, or as a trailer behind a bigger, more visible dry fly. Oh yeah... And use bigger tippet so you don't break a bunch of them off due to aggressive strikes.
Instead of me butchering the history of this fly, HERE is a link to how this fly was developed told by Don Bastian himself. All I'm going to say is that you NEED some of these in your box!

Material List
    daiichi-1180-standard-dry-fly-hook
  • Hook: Daiichi 1180 - Standard Dry Fly Hook - 14
  • 8-0-uni-thread-waxed-midge
  • Thread: 8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge - Camel
  • sparkle-emerger-yarn
  • Shuck/Wing: Sparkle Emerger Yarn - Cream
  • natures-spirit-snowshoe-rabbit-foot-dubbing
  • Body/Head: Nature's Spirit Snowshoe Rabbit Foot Dubbing - Brown
  • mirage-tinsel-opal
  • Ribbing: Mirage Tinsel - Opal - Small
  • rainys-evazote-foam
  • Shell: Rainy's Evazote Foam - Black - 1/8"
  • whiting-4b-hen-cape
  • Soft Hackle: Whiting 4B Hen Cape - Black
  • natures-spirit-starling-skin
  • Soft Hackle Alternate: Nature's Spirit Starling Skin
  • Tools Used: hard-as-hull-head-cementdr-slick-razor-scissors-4tiemco-midge-whip-finisherc-f-design-hackle-plierstiemco-tying-tweezers
Materials & Alternate Materials Listed Below
UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier
UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

$2.49
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge

8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge

$3.50
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0

Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0

$3.50
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread

Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread

$3.49
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0

Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0

$3.50
Mirage Tinsel - Opal
Mirage Tinsel - Opal

Mirage Tinsel - Opal

$1.99
Sparkle Emerger Yarn
Sparkle Emerger Yarn

Sparkle Emerger Yarn

$4.25
Rainy's Evazote Foam
Rainy's Evazote Foam
Rainy's Evazote Foam
Rainy's Evazote Foam

Rainy's Evazote Foam

$3.50
Nature's Spirit Snowshoe Rabbit Foot Dubbing
Nature's Spirit Snowshoe Rabbit Foot Dubbing
Nature's Spirit Snowshoe Rabbit Foot Dubbing

Nature's Spirit Snowshoe Rabbit Foot Dubbing

$3.25
TMC 100 Dry Fly Hook
TMC 100 Dry Fly Hook

TMC 100 Dry Fly Hook

$32.50
Daiichi 1180 - Standard Dry Fly Hook
Daiichi 1180 - Standard Dry Fly Hook

Daiichi 1180 - Standard Dry Fly Hook

$6.99
TMC 101 Dry Fly Hook
TMC 101 Dry Fly Hook

TMC 101 Dry Fly Hook

$32.50
Whiting 4B Hen Cape
Whiting 4B Hen Cape

Whiting 4B Hen Cape

$19.95
TMC 100B Dry Fly Hook, Black Nickel
TMC 100B Dry Fly Hook, Black Nickel

TMC 100B Dry Fly Hook, Black Nickel

$9.60
Dr. Slick Razor Scissors - 4
Dr. Slick Razor Scissors - 4

Dr. Slick Razor Scissors - 4"

$35.00
Daiichi 1110 - Wide Gape Dry Fly Hook
Daiichi 1110 - Wide Gape Dry Fly Hook

Daiichi 1110 - Wide Gape Dry Fly Hook

$6.99
Hard As Hull Head Cement
Hard As Hull Head Cement

Hard As Hull Head Cement

$7.49
Tiemco Midge Whip Finisher
Tiemco Midge Whip Finisher

Tiemco Midge Whip Finisher

$29.99