North Florida Fly Fishing Tallahassee - Fly Patterns

The Talquin Sedge is a pattern I designed to imitate the Cinnamon Sedge which is one of more than 200 species of caddisflies that occur in Florida waters. It typically emerges during fall months and is a particularly noticeable species when emerging, as it is relatively large (hook size 14 or larger) and cinnamon colored; hence the name Cinnamon Sedge. Design of the pattern did not occur until a sample of uniquely colored hen capes were received from Whiting Farms for experimentation. These feathers are a combination of cinnamon, cream and black barring with an overall cinnamon appearance that is especially suited for the Talquin Sedge. Tom Whiting referred to these variant pelts as the closest to a hen Cree as he has seen. I fish the pattern both dry and as an emerger. It is a very good pattern for taking bream in the Tallahassee area; as well as, trout in the Sierras and Rocky Mountains.

Hook: Daiichi 1550, Size 10-14
Thread: Olive or Tan Danville 6/0 or Gudebrod 8/0
Tail: Three Barbs of Whiting Farms Cree Variant Hen Cape
Body: Olive Super Fine or Zelon Dubbing
Wing: Olive Deer Hair
Hackle: Whiting Farms Cree Variant Hen Cape
Head: Olive or Tan Thread and Cement of Choice.

Tying the Talquin Sedge as follows:

1. Bend the barb down as hook is placed in the vise and start the thread with a jam knot behind the hook eye. Wrap the thread to hook bend with thread hanging between hook barb and point. Thread should be counter spun to flatten and wrapped in side-by-side or touching turns to maintain a flat thread base.

2. Select a feather from cape of size to match hook size. Strip all webbing from shaft of feather and remove three barbs for tail. Tie the three barbs in on top of hook shank as tail. Return thread to tie in point of tail and rear of body.

3. Dub body/abdomen on approximately ¾ of shank forward of the tie-in point of tail to ¼ of shank behind hook eye.

4. Stack sparse clump of deer hair and tie in on top of hook shank with tips extending to approximately half way between hook point and bend.

5. Prepare feather to tie in by tip, leaving sufficient barbs for 3-4 hackle wraps. Tie in feather by tip on underside of shank in front of wing with top facing forward. Wrap hackle forward in touching wraps and tie off shaft under hook shank. Wrap to hook eye and back to front tie in point of hackle and rear of head. Whip finish head and seal with cement of choice.