BEARSTICK CADDIS

 

The Bearstick Caddis: Taming the Darker Hatches

By John Wilson

For years, the original Broomstick Caddis has been my go-to for the tan and light-coloured hatches. But there are days—especially during those moody afternoons on the Grand River in Fergus or the technical waters of the Credit River—when the trout are keyed into something darker.

That is where the Bearstick Caddis (or the Bearhair Broomstick) comes into its own.

The Magic of the Root

While the original Broomstick uses kinky calf-tail, the Bearstick relies on the roots of black bear hair cut close to the hide. This material is uniquely "puffy," mimicking the natural buoyancy of CDC but with far more durability.

When tied with a horizontal wing and an olive body, it becomes a versatile Blue Winged Olive (BWO) imitation. I find these most effective in the smaller ranges—sizes 16, 18, and 20.

Tying Tip: The "Wild" Leg & Shuck

One question I often get is how I achieve such a "buggy" look without traditional hackle. My secret is all in the dubbing and a bit of flash:

1. The Wing & Shuck: Secure your bear hair wing horizontally with a drop of cement to lock it in place. In this model, I add three sprigs of sparkle flash at the rear to imitate a trailing shuck—similar to the X-Caddis—which acts as a major strike trigger for selective fish.
2. The Wild Spin: Take your grey or chocolate brown dubbing and spin it loosely onto the thread.
3. No Compression: This is the key—dub the thorax without compressing or pressing down the dubbing with your thumb and finger. By leaving the fibers loose and wild, they stand out naturally to provide that leggy movement trout can't resist.

Material List

• Hook: Mustad 94840, 94845 (or modern barbless alternatives like Daiichi 1190 or Firehole 419) in sizes 14-20.
• Thread: Tan or Olive 8/0.
• Body: Olive or Burnt Umber dubbing.
• Wing: Black Bear hair roots (cut close to the hide).
• Shuck: 3 sprigs of Sparkle Flash.
• Legs: Grey or Chocolate Brown dubbing (spun wild).

From the Beaverkill to Ontario

This pattern has served me well from the Beaverkill where it all started, to my favorite local drifts on the Grand and the Credit. I’ve spent many afternoons sitting at a picnic bench in Fergus, tying these up on the spot to match a hatch I wasn't prepared for.

Whether you dead-drift it, skitter it, or dive it to mimic a living insect, the Bearstick is a "must-have" for the late-day angler.

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