Dry FliesDipping Sally
Hans Weilenmann furls bright yellow acrylic yarn into an extended abdomen, then packs a cream snowshoe thorax in split thread under a bleached elk head and wing. The buoyant elk hair and slim extended body keep the fly riding high through repeated surface contact when an angler twitches it to imitate an egg-laying caddis.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Intermediate
Trout
Feb 2026
Overview
The extended abdomen is built by furling bright yellow acrylic yarn before the fly moves to a cream snowshoe thorax packed into split thread, and bleached elk hair forms both the head and the wing over yellow Benecchi thread. That elk hair keeps the fly floating high and lets it be twitched repeatedly without sinking, which matters because it's built to match female caddis performing the rapid dipping motions that wash eggs onto the water. The bright yellow abdomen also gives the angler a visible marker during low-light evening activity. It fishes moving water and stillwater through spring, summer, and fall whenever caddis egg-laying draws fish to a specific touchdown zone.
Where to Buy This Fly
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Materials
- Hook:
- Tiemco 2499SP #14
- Thread:
- Benecchi 12/0, yellow
- Head/wing:
- Elk, bleached
- Extended abdomen:
- Acrylic yarn, bright yellow - furled
- Thorax:
- Snowshoe, cream - in split thread
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Adult stoneflies flutter across the surface during egg-laying, periodically dipping abdomens to deposit eggs while creating visible wakes. Between dips, they rest on the film with wings folded flat.
Where Trout Eat It: Fish patrol near-surface zones, smashing egg-laying adults near bank edges and foam lines.
How to Fish It: Skate or twitch across the surface to imitate egg-laying behavior, or dead drift between movements.
Best Water: Bank edges, foam lines, pocket water, and current breaks during stonefly egg-laying periods.
Strike Type: Aggressive surface strikes with splashy rises as fish attack the active, fluttering profile.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Fish on 9-12 foot leader with 4X-5X tippet. Position near banks and overhanging vegetation where caddis activity concentrates during egg-laying behavior.
Seasonal Timing: Most effective during peak caddis activity May through September, particularly June through August when evening egg-laying activity peaks. Water temperatures 55-65°F during evening hours 6-9 PM produce best results.
Pro Tips: The splayed hackle design creates authentic surface dimples matching ovipositing caddis. Fish during evening activity when natural behavior peaks, targeting feeding lanes where trout expect egg-laying females.
Entomology
Female caddisflies perform rapid dipping motions to wash eggs from their abdomens, creating rhythmic disturbances as they repeatedly strike the water surface in tight patterns. The repetitive behavior and concentrated activity in specific zones trigger competitive feeding responses as fish learn to anticipate the next touchdown.
- Order
- Trichoptera
- Common Name
- Caddisfly
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- adult
