Fly of the Month 06.2016
We continue our series with Part Two of Caddisflies. We have selected a Caddis Poopah fly pattern that closely represents or imitates the pupa stage that is most typically observed in the water column during emergence. Most caddisflies effectively emerge from their cocoon on the bottom, then cast off their pupal skin and the now-obsolete gills and mandibles, near the surface while rising and hatch upon contact with the surface air.
Many species of caddisfly larvae enter a stage of inactivity called the pupa stage for weeks or months after they mature but prior to emergence. Their emergence is then triggered by cooling water temperatures in the fall, effectively synchronizing the adult activity to make mate-finding easier. The pupa stage is not readily observed by the angler.
We continue our series with Part Two of Caddisflies. We have selected a Caddis Poopah fly pattern that closely represents or imitates the pupa stage that is most typically observed in the water column during emergence. Most caddisflies effectively emerge from their cocoon on the bottom, then cast off their pupal skin and the now-obsolete gills and mandibles, near the surface while rising and hatch upon contact with the surface air.
Many species of caddisfly larvae enter a stage of inactivity called the pupa stage for weeks or months after they mature but prior to emergence. Their emergence is then triggered by cooling water temperatures in the fall, effectively synchronizing the adult activity to make mate-finding easier. The pupa stage is not readily observed by the angler.
Caddis Poopah – Part Two – Pupae
Caddisflies pupate in a cocoon spun of silk much like the pupation of Lepidoptera. Prior to the last molt before the pupal stage, caddisfly larva that build cases attach their portable case to some underwater object, seal the front and back apertures against predation though still allowing water flow, and pupate within it. When the larvae are full grown in late Spring or early Summer, they are ready to pupate or go into a resting stage. The caddisfly remains a pupa for two or three weeks.
Once fully developed, most pupal caddisflies bite through their cases with a special pair of mandibles, swim up to the water surface, and emerge as fully formed adults. Caddisfly larvae that are born at the end of Summer overwinter and change the following year. In a minority of species, the pupae swim to shore—either below the water or across the surface—and crawl out to emerge. Many of them are able to fly immediately after breaking from their pupal skin.
In common with many aquatic insect species, many caddisfly adults emerge synchronously en masse. Such emergence patterns ensure that most caddisflies will encounter a member of the opposite sex in a timely fashion. Mass emergences of this nature are called 'hatches' by salmon and trout anglers, and salmonid fish species will frequently 'switch' to whatever species is emerging on a particular day. Anglers take advantage of this behavior by matching their artificial flies to the appropriate fly.
Predators of larvae and pupae include fish and other aquatic animals, such as other insects and crayfish. Predators of adults include birds, bats, frogs, salamanders, insects, and spiders. Usually, large numbers of caddisflies hatch at the same time. This attracts predators, so most of them will get eaten. Because fish feed on the immature, aquatic stages, caddisfly pupa may be used as models for wet artificial flies used in fly fishing.
The number of living caddisfly families has recently increased from 19 to 34, based on a different method of classification in 1967.
Order Trichoptera - Insects with aquatic larvae and pupae, with functional mandibles; larvae with terminal abdominal hooked pro-legs or hooks, free-living, net spinning, or case making, pupate in larval case or cocoon. Pupae have functional mandibles, free limbs, and hook-bearing dorsal plates.
Suborder Annulipalpia – Larvae are net spinners.
Superfamily Hydropsychoidea - Antennae usually anterior wing length or less. Family Dipseudopsidae;
Family Ecnomidae; Family Electralbertidae; Family Polycentropodidae; Family Psychomyiidae;
Family Xiphocentronidae. Family Hydropsychidae - Antennae mostly about anterior wing length or slightly longer; larvae with many-branched ventral abdominal gills on most segments.
Suborder Integripalpia - Larvae free-living or case makers.
Superfamily Rhyacophiloidea - Antennae shorter than anterior wing length. Family Hydrobiosidae;
Family Rhyacophiloidae - Larvae free-living, produce a single line of silk.
Superfamily Hydroptiloidea and Family Ptilocolepidae;
Family Glossosomatidae - Larvae, saddle case makers with modified terminal pro-legs and hooks.
Family Hydroptilidae – Microcaddis; wings reduced, narrow, with long hair fringes; larvae purse case makers or tube case makers in last larval stage; earlier stages free-living.
Superfamily Limnephiloidea - Larvae, tube case makers. Family Apataniidae; Family Goeridae;
Family Limnephilidae; Family Rossianidae; Family Taymyrelectronidae; Family Uenoidae.
Superfamily Philopotamoidea and Family Philopotamidae – Larval head elongated.
Family Stenopsychidae - Larval head elongated.
Limnephilid Branch - Antennae about anterior wing length; adult mandibles reduced or lost.
Family Limnocentropodidae - Primitive articulating mandibles. Genus Limnephilus - Northern Caddis Fly.
Family Rhynchopsychidae - Mouthparts elongated. Family Thremnidae.
Superfamily Phryganeoidea and Family Plectrotarsidae - Specialized elongated mouthparts.
Family Baissoferidae; Family Brachycentridae; Family DysoneuridaeFamily Kalophryganeidae;
Family Kokiriidae; Family Lepidostomatidae; Family Oeconesidae; Family Phryganeidae;
Family Phryganopsychidae.
Leptocerid Branch - Antennae about anterior wing length or less, except Leptoceridae.
Family Philanisidae - Larvae only in marine littoral zone. Family Pisuliidae; Family Pycnocentrellidae.
Superfamily Sericostomatoidea and Family Anomalopsychidae; Family Antipodoeciidae;
Family Barbarochthonidae; Family Beraeidae; Family Calocidae; Family Chathamiidae; Family Conoesucidae;
Family Helicophidae; Family Hydrosalpingidae; Family Petrothrincidae; Family Sericostomatidae;
Family Tasimiidae; Family Helicopsychidae - Larval cases look like small snail shells; very small in size.
Superfamily Leptoceroidea and Family Leptoceridae - Antennae longer than wingspan; anterior wings elongated.
Family Molannidae - Claws specialized. Family Atriplectididae; Family Calamoceratidae; Family Odontoceridae;
Family Philorheithridae.
Suborder Spicipalpia - Larvae free-living.
Superfamily Necrotaulioidea and Family Necrotauliidae.
Superfamily Vitimotaulioidea and Family Vitimotauliidae; Family Cladochoristidae; Family Microptysmatidae;
Family Prosepididontidae; Family Protomeropidae; Family Uraloptysmatidae.
Note: The taxonomic status of a number of genera and families remains unclear and have been omitted.
A great time to consider using a Caddis Poopah is when there is a caddis hatch yet there are very few or no trout rising. It is likely that the trout are feeding on rising caddis pupae. It is fairly easy to capture a caddisfly for closer observation as they tend to flutter like a moth with a hover-like erratic pattern. Note the color of the body and the shade of the wings. A simple match of the body color is generally effective for a pupae imitation.
Fly of the Month 6.16
Caddis Poopah
Hook: Tiemco 2457 or equivalent, size : 18,16,14
Thread : Uni Dun 8/0 or equivalent
Body : Ultra Chenille, small in Tan, Green or Gray with Fine Copper wire segmentation
Thorax: Ostrich Plume
Antenna : Mallard Flank
Throat : Hungarian Partridge
Directions :
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker
Caddisflies pupate in a cocoon spun of silk much like the pupation of Lepidoptera. Prior to the last molt before the pupal stage, caddisfly larva that build cases attach their portable case to some underwater object, seal the front and back apertures against predation though still allowing water flow, and pupate within it. When the larvae are full grown in late Spring or early Summer, they are ready to pupate or go into a resting stage. The caddisfly remains a pupa for two or three weeks.
Once fully developed, most pupal caddisflies bite through their cases with a special pair of mandibles, swim up to the water surface, and emerge as fully formed adults. Caddisfly larvae that are born at the end of Summer overwinter and change the following year. In a minority of species, the pupae swim to shore—either below the water or across the surface—and crawl out to emerge. Many of them are able to fly immediately after breaking from their pupal skin.
In common with many aquatic insect species, many caddisfly adults emerge synchronously en masse. Such emergence patterns ensure that most caddisflies will encounter a member of the opposite sex in a timely fashion. Mass emergences of this nature are called 'hatches' by salmon and trout anglers, and salmonid fish species will frequently 'switch' to whatever species is emerging on a particular day. Anglers take advantage of this behavior by matching their artificial flies to the appropriate fly.
Predators of larvae and pupae include fish and other aquatic animals, such as other insects and crayfish. Predators of adults include birds, bats, frogs, salamanders, insects, and spiders. Usually, large numbers of caddisflies hatch at the same time. This attracts predators, so most of them will get eaten. Because fish feed on the immature, aquatic stages, caddisfly pupa may be used as models for wet artificial flies used in fly fishing.
The number of living caddisfly families has recently increased from 19 to 34, based on a different method of classification in 1967.
Order Trichoptera - Insects with aquatic larvae and pupae, with functional mandibles; larvae with terminal abdominal hooked pro-legs or hooks, free-living, net spinning, or case making, pupate in larval case or cocoon. Pupae have functional mandibles, free limbs, and hook-bearing dorsal plates.
Suborder Annulipalpia – Larvae are net spinners.
Superfamily Hydropsychoidea - Antennae usually anterior wing length or less. Family Dipseudopsidae;
Family Ecnomidae; Family Electralbertidae; Family Polycentropodidae; Family Psychomyiidae;
Family Xiphocentronidae. Family Hydropsychidae - Antennae mostly about anterior wing length or slightly longer; larvae with many-branched ventral abdominal gills on most segments.
Suborder Integripalpia - Larvae free-living or case makers.
Superfamily Rhyacophiloidea - Antennae shorter than anterior wing length. Family Hydrobiosidae;
Family Rhyacophiloidae - Larvae free-living, produce a single line of silk.
Superfamily Hydroptiloidea and Family Ptilocolepidae;
Family Glossosomatidae - Larvae, saddle case makers with modified terminal pro-legs and hooks.
Family Hydroptilidae – Microcaddis; wings reduced, narrow, with long hair fringes; larvae purse case makers or tube case makers in last larval stage; earlier stages free-living.
Superfamily Limnephiloidea - Larvae, tube case makers. Family Apataniidae; Family Goeridae;
Family Limnephilidae; Family Rossianidae; Family Taymyrelectronidae; Family Uenoidae.
Superfamily Philopotamoidea and Family Philopotamidae – Larval head elongated.
Family Stenopsychidae - Larval head elongated.
Limnephilid Branch - Antennae about anterior wing length; adult mandibles reduced or lost.
Family Limnocentropodidae - Primitive articulating mandibles. Genus Limnephilus - Northern Caddis Fly.
Family Rhynchopsychidae - Mouthparts elongated. Family Thremnidae.
Superfamily Phryganeoidea and Family Plectrotarsidae - Specialized elongated mouthparts.
Family Baissoferidae; Family Brachycentridae; Family DysoneuridaeFamily Kalophryganeidae;
Family Kokiriidae; Family Lepidostomatidae; Family Oeconesidae; Family Phryganeidae;
Family Phryganopsychidae.
Leptocerid Branch - Antennae about anterior wing length or less, except Leptoceridae.
Family Philanisidae - Larvae only in marine littoral zone. Family Pisuliidae; Family Pycnocentrellidae.
Superfamily Sericostomatoidea and Family Anomalopsychidae; Family Antipodoeciidae;
Family Barbarochthonidae; Family Beraeidae; Family Calocidae; Family Chathamiidae; Family Conoesucidae;
Family Helicophidae; Family Hydrosalpingidae; Family Petrothrincidae; Family Sericostomatidae;
Family Tasimiidae; Family Helicopsychidae - Larval cases look like small snail shells; very small in size.
Superfamily Leptoceroidea and Family Leptoceridae - Antennae longer than wingspan; anterior wings elongated.
Family Molannidae - Claws specialized. Family Atriplectididae; Family Calamoceratidae; Family Odontoceridae;
Family Philorheithridae.
Suborder Spicipalpia - Larvae free-living.
Superfamily Necrotaulioidea and Family Necrotauliidae.
Superfamily Vitimotaulioidea and Family Vitimotauliidae; Family Cladochoristidae; Family Microptysmatidae;
Family Prosepididontidae; Family Protomeropidae; Family Uraloptysmatidae.
Note: The taxonomic status of a number of genera and families remains unclear and have been omitted.
A great time to consider using a Caddis Poopah is when there is a caddis hatch yet there are very few or no trout rising. It is likely that the trout are feeding on rising caddis pupae. It is fairly easy to capture a caddisfly for closer observation as they tend to flutter like a moth with a hover-like erratic pattern. Note the color of the body and the shade of the wings. A simple match of the body color is generally effective for a pupae imitation.
Fly of the Month 6.16
Caddis Poopah
Hook: Tiemco 2457 or equivalent, size : 18,16,14
Thread : Uni Dun 8/0 or equivalent
Body : Ultra Chenille, small in Tan, Green or Gray with Fine Copper wire segmentation
Thorax: Ostrich Plume
Antenna : Mallard Flank
Throat : Hungarian Partridge
Directions :
- After debarbing the hook tie about two inches of copper wire, beginning at the one third mark from the eye. Tie in using touching wraps and binding the wire to the side of the hook shank closest to you. When you reach the end of the straight part of the hook shank, return the thread to the one third mark and let bobbin hang. Move the wire end out of the way.
- Select a two inch piece of chenille and using a match or lighter, gently singe the tip. The material will shrink up to a point with a slightly darker tip.
- Tie in the chenille, beginning at the curve of the hook using open wraps of the copper wire. Maintain the chenille on top of the hook shank as you advance the wire by gently nudging with your opposite hand’s finger. Advance to the one-third mark and using thread, secure the wrap and remove the waste.
- Select six or eight partridge fibers and after aligning the tips, strip away from the stem. Tie in under the hook shank with the length such that the tips touch the hook tip. These will be in the thorax.
- Select a mallard flank for the antenna and after stripping away any fuzz or webby feathers, stroke back the barbs and align two only. Holding by the tips, pull these away from the stem, keeping the tips even. Note the natural curve of the barbs and maintain them, parallel, tying in with the tips up. Adjust the tips if necessary and tie in on either side of the hook shank in the thorax letting the tips extend past the length of the body. Trim away any waste and let the bobbin hang.
- Select an ostrich herl and tie in by the end closest to the stem, beginning at the end of the chenille or thorax. Wrap in tight, touching turns toward the eye, leaving room for a small thread head. Trim waste, whip finish.
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker