Favorite Caddis patterns

P

Pigs

Steelhead
I’m in caddis mode. I’m mostly interested in Caddis pupa/cripple/spent type patterns.

This is sort of my go-to deep pupa. Nothing special. Black tung/hares mask/flash and wire rib/cdc and partridge collar1000001657.jpeg


I’ve been tying a partridge (no pics I guess) spent caddis I like quite a bit. I’m curious what you guys like for a dead caddis pattern…..dry or fished under the surface.
 
I don’t know if they take it is a spent adult or an emerger but this CDC and peacock and bit-o-flash thing in this post works for me when the good ol’ EHC or x-caddis just ain’t cuttin’ it.

Matt B

Thread '2021 North Idahontana part 1'

6 days traveling, camping, fishing with my Dad in 2021.
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This loop wing CDC emerger type fly killed it for me.

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Smoke was swirling around up there all week. I didn't realize how it was getting to me until I eventually got out of it.

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There were thousands of these larvae in places. It was truly impressive. I believe they may be Porpyga nigricans, Western firefly larvae. I now see that there's a caddis case on that rock, too. There was no shortage of insect activity. The macroinvertebrate population in this valley appears plenty healthy...
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Craven’s Government Cheese has been pretty effective for me; not specifically a caddis pattern but in smaller sizes it could sure pass for one. I’ve only tied them in #8 and #10, but that’s a function of the deer hair I have on hand. I can probably squeeze some #12s out of my deer hair but will look for some shorter stuff. Fished a small stream yesterday

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Caught some cutts

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But had more refusals than takes on the #10s; I’ll tie up some smaller ones this weekend.

Regards,
Scott
 
Pigs said:
Great stuff guys!

Here’s my version of a spent caddis. I don’t use dubbing wax for the head on these. I think I will do that next session.

Simple dubbed body. Zelon underwing. Partridge tips laid flat for over wing. Hares mask with guard hairs for thorax/head

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That looks a lot like a Gary Lafountaine diving caddis to me, which would probably also work for a spent caddis when dead drifted.
 
Zak said:
That looks a lot like a Gary Lafountaine diving caddis to me, which would probably also work for a spent caddis when dead drifted.
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I based it off this Orvis video I found


I typically don’t use SBS recipes any more. I prefer to just kind of “wing it”…..but this one is pretty much this pattern to a T….I've used it on the D with success. I might tweak it a bit. That’s the fun part of tying
 
I spose this didn’t need its own thread. Probably coulda been in the “what’s in your vise” thread…..if mods wanna put it in there all good
 
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Peaking Caddis: There are all kinds of variations to this. I keep a small vial of snipped "everything" which I use for the body which I think mimics the cases these critters make. A dubbed lime green head and a lot less legs than show on this picture coming from pulled out black, scrap, dub. Czech nymph this bug along with a heavier bead, head, prince, nymph to scratch the bottom.

Of course it's very hard to beat swinging a hare's ear spider (flymph) when the fish are surfacing.
 
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