Patterned after a classic North Country spider, the Partridge and Light Cahill is another example of a fly that is ridiculously simple and devastatingly effective. The first time I tied this fly, it sat in my box, unused, for the better part of four years. Then came a late May evening on the lower Farmington. Creamy mayfly duns were out in force. Trout were slashing at the flies, their feeding frenzy creating a cauldron effect on the river’s surface. I tied my experiment onto my team of three wets, and the trout overwhelmingly showed their approval. To the vise, good angler, then fish the Light Cahill and Sulphur hatches with confidence. The vote will surely be yes for you, too.
currentseams.com 
Excellent video quality! If only other tiers on line were as succinct! Thanks very much.
Hah! It’s called editing. I hear you, Steve — I think sometimes people fall into the trap of liking to hear themselves talk. It’s a slippery slope. Glad you liked, and happy tying.
I appreciate how you suggested an easy to obtain product in place of Pearsalls. I helps those of us who are just starting out.
Roger that, Dan. Pearsall’s is a nice way to feel connected to tradition, and it looks great on the hook shank, but the trout can’t tell if you’re using it. Look for Morus silk online if you can find it!
[…] Check out the big wet fly brain on Stephen! This was not an easy fish to catch — it was haphazardly rising in some in-between water. We got nothing on our first three drifts. Surprise on the fourth! In my experience, if a trout doesn’t take the wet on the first pass, he’s less likely to take on the second, and even more so on the third. Thankfully, I don’t need to be right. Middle dropper was the selection, a Partridge and Light Cahill. […]
[…] minutes. I enjoyed some spectacular wet fly action, swinging a team of three (Squirrel and Ginger, Partridge and Light Cahill, and Light Cahill winged wet). I took numerous fish on all three patterns, presenting upstream, […]
steve, how do the barbules contribute on soft hackles vs. tenkara style flies? i just tied both, adding a glass mirrored bead to both in the thorax position. i guess the barbules will fold around the bead on the soft hackle but not the tenkara style. i think the soft hackle traditional will have the advantage by enveloping the bead. i plan to fish them together to see which the fish prefer both on my tenkara rod and swinging with my 3 wt.
any thoughts?
Hi Bill,
It’s a hard question for me to answer for a couple reasons. One, I don’t tie and have no experience with Tenkara flies, so I can’t speak in any detail about them. Two, all soft hackles are not created equal. A feather from a partridge back is different from a hen chicken neck feather is different from an undercovert starling feather….etc. Also factoring in are such things as current speed, and direction you’re fishing (Dead drift? Down and across?) and there are multiple variables at play. So, tie your flies, do your experiments, and have fun. The fish will always tell you when you get it right. š
[…] The Magic Fly, and the Usual. For wets, the Light Cahill winged, the Pale Watery Wingless, and the Partridge and Light Cahill. Any of the creamy Leisenring or North Country patterns will serve you […]
[…] size 14 top dropper, a LaFontaine Diving Caddis tan variant size 14 middle dropper, and a tailed Partridge and Light Cahill size 14 on point. My first three fish took one of each. From about 7:15-8:30, I have no idea how […]