Brillion's Stillwater Caddis
Fly of the Month 02.26 - Stillwater Caddis [Pupa]
The Stillwater Caddis Pupa is a great fly to utilize during early to mid-summer evenings on fly fishing ponds and lakes such as Max Patch, Boone Fork Pond in Mulberry, Coffey’s Pond in Gragg and Trout Lake delayed harvest in Alleghany County. Although this fly tying segment is dedicated to the caddis pupa, it is important to have a bit of an understanding of its entire life cycle of a caddisfly to know where the pupa fits in.
The caddisfly life cycle consists of a full metamorphosis including stages as egg, larva, pupa, and adult. A female adult caddis mate then deposits her eggs in a body of water. In the case of still water it may be a pond or lake as well as a large, calm pool in a stream or river. The eggs hatch and become larvae. Once ready to emerge the larvae pupate and swims quickly in an angle upward using it’s long oar like legs, it’s antenna sweeping backwards the length of the body. changing into a final form that emerges out of the water to become an adult. Once free from the pupal shuck the adult will spend a few seconds with it’s wings upright drying, then it folds them down in a tent like shape over the body and begins to jump and scurry across the water surface attempting to fly. Once airborne it flies to the shoreline foliage returning during the day to drink. After mating has occurred the females return to the water surface to deposit their eggs by skimming across the surface, thus completing the cycle.
Favorite Caddis pupa fly patterns
1. Stillwater Caddis [Pupa] - present here FOTM February 2026
2. Caddistrophic Pupa - A stillwater, pseudo-realistic
caddisfly pupa or emerger (photo courtesy Umpqua)
3. Sparkle Pupa - Presented FOTM August 2014
4. Caddis Poopah - Presented FOTM June 2016
5. Iris Caddis Emerger - Tied in natural colors in size 14, 16 and 18 to fish as an emerging caddis. The curved shank hook pattern works very well in both still and moving waters . (photo courtesy Umpqua)
Stillwater Caddis [Pupa]
The Stillwater Caddis Pupa is best fished in the early summer period when caddis emergences are most intense. Remember that caddis pupa swim quickly up through the water column to emerge into the adult stage. Watch for cast casings or shucks of newly emerged adults. That is a tip off for an emergence
Stillwater Caddis Pupa Techniques and Equipment:
Fly Line – WF6I - Clear intermediate/slow sink (2.5 inches/second)
Retrieve – 6 to 8 inch medium fast strip retrieve
Leader - 12 feet with 5 pound tippet
Skate the Fly
Caddis patterns that float well and can hold a dropper without sinking may be skated which is exactly what the term says and means. Gently pull the fly to move faster than the water and create a bow wave. This is a great trigger for subsurface cruising fish. A small wet fly dropper such as a caddis pupa below it can also imitate an emerger pattern and trigger a take, especially with a caddis pupa swimming upwards.
Bouncing the Fly
The Bouncing Caddis technique is no secret and works a charm when the conditions are right. Much like dapping, the caddis is bounced, bobbed and allowed to hang in the surface film. Think of how the fish target low-flying caddis, dragonflies, or damsels, it is no wonder they react as they do to the hanging fly.
A key factor is to have a dropper fly heavier than usual, as this serves as the anchor point to bounce from. Making sure the caddis pattern bounces and touches the water resting slightly between each lift. Make sure to create a significant disturbance each time. Imitate the action of a caddisfly drop and dip its abdomen each time, dropping eggs in the water. This is the action to imitate.
Fly of the Month 02.26
Stillwater Caddis [Pupa]
Hook: 2xL shank (Mustad R74)
Size: 8, 10, 12
Thread: 8/0 or 6/0 green waxed
Rib: Lime green Super Stretch Flex or Super floss
Body: Medium olive synthetic seals fur dubbing
Thorax: Same as body material
Shellback: Ringneck pheasant tail fibers
Throat: Peacock Angel Hair fibers
Legs: Ringneck pheasant rump fibers
Head: Peacock herl
Note: The sedge pupa or caddis pupa can range from a 1/4 inch to over 1 inch in length. Body color is dependent on it’s natural environment but light brown to dark greens are the norm.
Directions:
1) Place the bead on the hook and insert the hook into the vise.
2)
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker
The Stillwater Caddis Pupa is a great fly to utilize during early to mid-summer evenings on fly fishing ponds and lakes such as Max Patch, Boone Fork Pond in Mulberry, Coffey’s Pond in Gragg and Trout Lake delayed harvest in Alleghany County. Although this fly tying segment is dedicated to the caddis pupa, it is important to have a bit of an understanding of its entire life cycle of a caddisfly to know where the pupa fits in.
The caddisfly life cycle consists of a full metamorphosis including stages as egg, larva, pupa, and adult. A female adult caddis mate then deposits her eggs in a body of water. In the case of still water it may be a pond or lake as well as a large, calm pool in a stream or river. The eggs hatch and become larvae. Once ready to emerge the larvae pupate and swims quickly in an angle upward using it’s long oar like legs, it’s antenna sweeping backwards the length of the body. changing into a final form that emerges out of the water to become an adult. Once free from the pupal shuck the adult will spend a few seconds with it’s wings upright drying, then it folds them down in a tent like shape over the body and begins to jump and scurry across the water surface attempting to fly. Once airborne it flies to the shoreline foliage returning during the day to drink. After mating has occurred the females return to the water surface to deposit their eggs by skimming across the surface, thus completing the cycle.
Favorite Caddis pupa fly patterns
1. Stillwater Caddis [Pupa] - present here FOTM February 2026
2. Caddistrophic Pupa - A stillwater, pseudo-realistic
caddisfly pupa or emerger (photo courtesy Umpqua)
3. Sparkle Pupa - Presented FOTM August 2014
4. Caddis Poopah - Presented FOTM June 2016
5. Iris Caddis Emerger - Tied in natural colors in size 14, 16 and 18 to fish as an emerging caddis. The curved shank hook pattern works very well in both still and moving waters . (photo courtesy Umpqua)
Stillwater Caddis [Pupa]
The Stillwater Caddis Pupa is best fished in the early summer period when caddis emergences are most intense. Remember that caddis pupa swim quickly up through the water column to emerge into the adult stage. Watch for cast casings or shucks of newly emerged adults. That is a tip off for an emergence
Stillwater Caddis Pupa Techniques and Equipment:
Fly Line – WF6I - Clear intermediate/slow sink (2.5 inches/second)
Retrieve – 6 to 8 inch medium fast strip retrieve
Leader - 12 feet with 5 pound tippet
Skate the Fly
Caddis patterns that float well and can hold a dropper without sinking may be skated which is exactly what the term says and means. Gently pull the fly to move faster than the water and create a bow wave. This is a great trigger for subsurface cruising fish. A small wet fly dropper such as a caddis pupa below it can also imitate an emerger pattern and trigger a take, especially with a caddis pupa swimming upwards.
Bouncing the Fly
The Bouncing Caddis technique is no secret and works a charm when the conditions are right. Much like dapping, the caddis is bounced, bobbed and allowed to hang in the surface film. Think of how the fish target low-flying caddis, dragonflies, or damsels, it is no wonder they react as they do to the hanging fly.
A key factor is to have a dropper fly heavier than usual, as this serves as the anchor point to bounce from. Making sure the caddis pattern bounces and touches the water resting slightly between each lift. Make sure to create a significant disturbance each time. Imitate the action of a caddisfly drop and dip its abdomen each time, dropping eggs in the water. This is the action to imitate.
Fly of the Month 02.26
Stillwater Caddis [Pupa]
Hook: 2xL shank (Mustad R74)
Size: 8, 10, 12
Thread: 8/0 or 6/0 green waxed
Rib: Lime green Super Stretch Flex or Super floss
Body: Medium olive synthetic seals fur dubbing
Thorax: Same as body material
Shellback: Ringneck pheasant tail fibers
Throat: Peacock Angel Hair fibers
Legs: Ringneck pheasant rump fibers
Head: Peacock herl
Note: The sedge pupa or caddis pupa can range from a 1/4 inch to over 1 inch in length. Body color is dependent on it’s natural environment but light brown to dark greens are the norm.
Directions:
1) Place the bead on the hook and insert the hook into the vise.
2)
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker