Caddis flies

[jcoberley]

About Caddis flies

The caddisfly life-cycle is radically different from that of mayflies:

First, caddis have an additional stage of development, changing from a larva to a pupa; the winged adult emerges from the pupa.

A second difference between caddis and mayflies is that the adult caddis emerges so quickly from the pupa that it is seldom available to trout during a hatch. However, the adult will live several weeks, spending much time in bankside trees and grass. They often fall or are blown onto the water, where trout eat them. Therefore, while mayfly adults are mostly eaten by trout when they hatch, caddis adults are mostly eaten when they are not hatching.

A third difference is the manner in which eggs are laid. Some caddis species drop their eggs into the water from above, where trout can't get them. But many others crawl or swim to the bottom, deposit their eggs, then return to the surface. Throughout the egg-laying process they are vulnerable to trout.

Finally, caddis are long-lived (compared to mayflies), vary in color even within the same species, and have overlapping hatch seasons. Therefore, on any day during the caddis season, trout are used to seeing adult caddis in a range of sizes and colors. This is good news for fly anglers: it means precise imitation is seldom necessary. "Close" is usually good enough when playing horseshoes or when tying caddis patterns.

Caddis live in both lakes and rivers. River-dwelling caddis are a well-behaved and easily understood group. Lake-dwelling caddis, on the other hand, defy generalization. For example, the famous travelling sedge is usually from the genus Banksiola. But other species of caddis--from different families, even--exhibit running behavoir just like the genus Banksiola; anglers call them "travelling sedges" too. Fortunately, most of the differences between families and genera are of little importance to either anglers or trout.

[gonefishin]

That fourth picture looks like a scud to me.

[Kayser]

Think fatter, smaller/fewer legs. Also, the larva can be white or chartruese, making for some interesting patterns. Net and case building varieties available.

Rob

[motroutbum]

Its a larvae out of its case. Caddis can be orange ie the october caddis which grow to be about a size 8. they can be bright green, brown, white, black, cream. they can range in size from 8-22 or so.

it looks to me like you took that right out of Lafontaine's book

[jcoberley]

I found the info and pics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, It was for info to how and why we make flies for fishing. I just thought it was a little insite on making flies.

[motroutbum]

I think its great. I fish a lot of caddis patterns out here. probably 80 percent of the time.

[Terry Beeson]

Good and interesting info...

[gonefishin]

I don't know what kind of bugs are falling out of the trees right now but the trout are sucking them up as soon as they hit the water.

[Guest flyfishBDS]

Ive seen lots of little (#40) bright green leaphoppers around the store.

But if Im not certain I'll throw a parachute ant

Cheers

[Jeremy Hunt]

This has to be one of my best caddis patterns for fooling trout after trout. I just got done tying a bunch for this seasons fishing. Can't wait to use them.