Someone around here must have really pissed Mother Nature off. Just when I think we might actually be turning the corner on this long winter season , along comes another wintry blast. It's spitting sleet and freezing rain right now as I look out my window and the forecast is for more of the same tomorrow followed up with 5-8 inches of snow. Last week I was chasing tailing carp in shorts and a t-shirt and this week I'm sitting at the vise filling flyboxes...Bah Humbug!!
I've been hearing reports about the caddis hatch down on the White River here lately and after a quick look inside the nymph box decided I could use a few more patterns that imitated said bug species. I'm no entomologist by any stretch of the imagination , but I spend enough time on the water to know what works for me when the fish in the area are keying on Spring caddis hatches. I can't honestly say that all or even the majority of caddis species I encounter are of the genus "Rhyacophila" , but I do know that a pupa pattern imitating this bug will catch fish consistently on all of the trout waters that I frequent here in the midwest.
When it comes to subsurface fish it's always hard to beat a good pupa pattern. There are lots of patterns out there for this stage of caddis and in my experience all of them will catch fish when the trout are really keying in on the hatch. Often times a #14 caddis hook wrapped with lime green thread and a beadhead is all you need to fool these fish , overly simple I know , but it works more often than not. My latest go-to bug isn't much more difficult to tie ,it has a few more "bells and whistles" which may or may not make it more atractive to the fish , but I've had enough good days with it that I like it.
If you happen to be heading out to one of your favorite streams in the near future and need a caddis pupa pattern give this one a try , I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Here's the recipe for anyone interested :
Hook.......Gamakatsu Caddis Hook
Thread ....Black 6/0
Bead.......Tungsten (Gold or Black)
Underbody..(1) Caddis Green Dubbing Brush (2) Yellow/Olive Uni-Yarn
Overbody...Clear Nymph Tubing
Collar...Dubbing Brush (Dark Hares Ear)
Feather Collar.....Soft-Hackle feather (I use grouse)
Nice flies my friend. I'm especially fond of the green body.
ReplyDeleteOld man winter, what can be said.
Thanks Alan , that one is a good one for sure.
DeleteThe combination of materials is making great looking flies! That should work anywhere with any methods (swing, indicator, etc).
ReplyDeleteThank You....both of those variations have proven themselves before if the situation warrants the caddis pupa.
DeleteGreat fly! I use something similar but I really like the looks of this.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone has a favorite caddis pupa pattern in their flybox. And as I said , I'm sure they all work equally well. This one just seems to have the proper look along with a little added action that works well from what I've seen.
DeleteVery nice flies! They look real buggy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Justin..They have my two favorite qualities in a fly pattern , easy to tie and they catch fish!
DeleteMy kind of flies. 70 degrees here today. It's coming your way.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope so Jim. I'm ready for some springtime weather that actually sticks around for awhile!
DeleteNice flies! My early caddis are Grannoms, Bracycentrus in incredible #s, that is, when I fished for trout. You flies would cover the pupa of them and Ryacaphilia most certainly. My go to have always been Lafontaine's Sparkle Pupas but of course I played around a lot. I have a Grannom Larva tie that looks like the real insect in the case. Sometimes I miss all that.
ReplyDeleteGregg
Thanks Gregg..I'd be lying if I said that I knew exactly what caddis species is which , but I do know that this pupa pattern works for me most of the time. I like the LaFontaine sparkle pupa as well , always been a good producer for me.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could ever give up my trout fishing , I love to chase carp and they're my homewaters fish of choice , but those colors on a wild rainbow can be hard to get out of your head!