Peeking Caddis
Fly of the Month
We continue our series with Part Three of Caddisflies. We have selected a Peeking Caddis fly pattern that closely represents or imitates the larva stage that is most typically observed on the bottom and readily available as food for fish to eat. The caddisfly larvae of many species use silk to make protective cases of gravel, sand, twigs or other debris. The Peeking Caddis fly pattern imitates the extended, vulnerable stage prior to pupation when the larva’s head and legs protrude from their portable case for mobility or gathering food while utilizing the pupal cocoon which is pulled along by the abdomen as protection.
In contrast to case-building larva, a free-living caddisfly larva imitated for example by the Breadcrumb fly pattern would be either on the bottom or in the water column full exposed and readily available food for fish. Net-making caddisfly larvae are typically not imitated by anglers since the silk net attached to objects on the bottom with a spider web appearance serves to collect food for the larva and provides full, non-exposed protection. The aquatic larva stage of all free-living, net-making and case-building caddisflies may be observed by the angler who turns over rocks.
Peeking Caddis – Part Three – Larvae
Fossil caddisflies have been found in rocks dating back to the Triassic. The pupal cases made by caddisflies have been viewed historically in terms of their fossil records that date back to 250 million years. Old groups of caddisflies are known to have fascinating diversity in their larval cases that are distinctive for each family or genus of caddisfly. For example, a suborder, Integripalpia, have cases that contain plant matter. Whereas suborder Annulipalpia have cases made from silk and detritus. However, some caddisflies, specifically among the suborder, Spicipalpia, are free living with no cases, instead creating a net-like trap with silk.
Depending on the species, larvae may be herbivorous, carnivorous, or omnivorous. Campodeiform which are elongated and flattened larvae are either free-living or net forming. In some net-forming species the larvae form webs of debris for protection, while others form a funnel-like web between stones in running water to catch food. Eruciform or caterpillar-like larvae are case-bearing and protect their bodies with ridged cases. In some groups types of nets or cases are distinct. In all larvae, antennae are short, and spiracles absent.
Most caddisfly larvae are underwater architects and use silk, excreted from salivary glands for building. Caddisflies are divided into three behavioral groups based on their use of silk: net-making caddisflies and case-building caddisflies, both of which may enlarge their structures throughout their larval lifespan; and free-living caddisflies, which only make a silk structure prior to pupation.
Net-making Caddisflies live in running water, and their nets, often made amongst aquatic vegetation, serve both as a means to collect algae, detritus, and animal food and as retreats.
Case-building caddisflies build portable cases with silk holding together substrate materials such as small fragments of rock, sand, small pieces of twig or aquatic plants to provide protection and rigidity. Many herbivorous species spin tubular protective cases that are open at both ends and enlarge and add material as the larvae grow. Undulating movements of the enclosed larvae circulate water to provide oxygen over their gills for respiration. Their tougher head and legs may peek from their larval tubes, allowing them to walk while dragging their protective portable cases along with them. When in danger, the larva can tuck itself inside. Larvae of one species, Triaenodes bicolor, swim by means of long, slender, hair-fringed posterior legs, dragging their cases through the water.
Free-living caddisflies have tough bodies and do not make nets or build cases prior to pupation. Many species of caddisfly larvae after a lengthy growth period enter a stage of inactivity called the pupa stage for a few weeks or months after they mature but prior to emergence.
Young caddisfly larvae hatch within a few days after eggs are deposited. As a case-building species hatches from its egg, the larva starts building a case. The larva gathers bits of twigs, leaves, bark, seeds, grass, gravel, sand, mollusk shells, and other items it finds on the bottom in the water, and it binds them together with a sticky substance produced from glands on the lower lip or labium. The caddis case is the larva's protection for most of its life.
Sponges and algae grow on the protective cases, and protozoans and mites grow on the larvae of some species. Two hymenopterans parasitize caddisflies. The parasitic wasp seeks its host underwater and lays its eggs inside the caddisfly larval case. The parasitic larva devours the caddisfly larva and remains inside the case to pupate, after which the adult parasite overwinters in the case and emerges in the early summer. Predators of caddisfly larvae and pupae include fish and other aquatic animals, such as other insects and crayfish.
When the caddisfly larvae are full grown in late Spring or early Summer, they are ready to go into a resting stage or pupate. Each larva attaches its case to the bottom, or to a rock or plant. Then it plugs up the hole of its case. The caddis fly stays a pupa for two weeks. At the end of several weeks, the pupa is able to push its way out of its case and finds its way to the surface. Larvae that are born at the end of Summer overwinter and change the following year.
Caddisfly larvae feed during the day. They are grazers and eat whatever they can find on the bottom, including algae, fungi, detritus, and very small invertebrates. Larvae are active in very cold water and can frequently be observed feeding under ice. No doubt the Peeking Caddis fly pattern is an excellent winter nymph.
Turn over a few rocks to locate and observe a few caddis cases. Note the color of the abdomen and thorax of the larva within the case. A simple match of the body colors is generally effective for a larva imitation while on the stream.
Fly of the Month 7.16
Peeking Caddis
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker
Peeking Caddis
Recipe :
Hook : Tiemco 3679 or equivalent, size 12.14,16,18
Thread : Tan or Black 8/0
Bead : Gold or Black to match hook size
Case : Hare’s Ear light
Legs : Hungarian Partridge (brown)
Caddis : Antron, white
We continue our series with Part Three of Caddisflies. We have selected a Peeking Caddis fly pattern that closely represents or imitates the larva stage that is most typically observed on the bottom and readily available as food for fish to eat. The caddisfly larvae of many species use silk to make protective cases of gravel, sand, twigs or other debris. The Peeking Caddis fly pattern imitates the extended, vulnerable stage prior to pupation when the larva’s head and legs protrude from their portable case for mobility or gathering food while utilizing the pupal cocoon which is pulled along by the abdomen as protection.
In contrast to case-building larva, a free-living caddisfly larva imitated for example by the Breadcrumb fly pattern would be either on the bottom or in the water column full exposed and readily available food for fish. Net-making caddisfly larvae are typically not imitated by anglers since the silk net attached to objects on the bottom with a spider web appearance serves to collect food for the larva and provides full, non-exposed protection. The aquatic larva stage of all free-living, net-making and case-building caddisflies may be observed by the angler who turns over rocks.
Peeking Caddis – Part Three – Larvae
Fossil caddisflies have been found in rocks dating back to the Triassic. The pupal cases made by caddisflies have been viewed historically in terms of their fossil records that date back to 250 million years. Old groups of caddisflies are known to have fascinating diversity in their larval cases that are distinctive for each family or genus of caddisfly. For example, a suborder, Integripalpia, have cases that contain plant matter. Whereas suborder Annulipalpia have cases made from silk and detritus. However, some caddisflies, specifically among the suborder, Spicipalpia, are free living with no cases, instead creating a net-like trap with silk.
Depending on the species, larvae may be herbivorous, carnivorous, or omnivorous. Campodeiform which are elongated and flattened larvae are either free-living or net forming. In some net-forming species the larvae form webs of debris for protection, while others form a funnel-like web between stones in running water to catch food. Eruciform or caterpillar-like larvae are case-bearing and protect their bodies with ridged cases. In some groups types of nets or cases are distinct. In all larvae, antennae are short, and spiracles absent.
Most caddisfly larvae are underwater architects and use silk, excreted from salivary glands for building. Caddisflies are divided into three behavioral groups based on their use of silk: net-making caddisflies and case-building caddisflies, both of which may enlarge their structures throughout their larval lifespan; and free-living caddisflies, which only make a silk structure prior to pupation.
Net-making Caddisflies live in running water, and their nets, often made amongst aquatic vegetation, serve both as a means to collect algae, detritus, and animal food and as retreats.
Case-building caddisflies build portable cases with silk holding together substrate materials such as small fragments of rock, sand, small pieces of twig or aquatic plants to provide protection and rigidity. Many herbivorous species spin tubular protective cases that are open at both ends and enlarge and add material as the larvae grow. Undulating movements of the enclosed larvae circulate water to provide oxygen over their gills for respiration. Their tougher head and legs may peek from their larval tubes, allowing them to walk while dragging their protective portable cases along with them. When in danger, the larva can tuck itself inside. Larvae of one species, Triaenodes bicolor, swim by means of long, slender, hair-fringed posterior legs, dragging their cases through the water.
Free-living caddisflies have tough bodies and do not make nets or build cases prior to pupation. Many species of caddisfly larvae after a lengthy growth period enter a stage of inactivity called the pupa stage for a few weeks or months after they mature but prior to emergence.
Young caddisfly larvae hatch within a few days after eggs are deposited. As a case-building species hatches from its egg, the larva starts building a case. The larva gathers bits of twigs, leaves, bark, seeds, grass, gravel, sand, mollusk shells, and other items it finds on the bottom in the water, and it binds them together with a sticky substance produced from glands on the lower lip or labium. The caddis case is the larva's protection for most of its life.
Sponges and algae grow on the protective cases, and protozoans and mites grow on the larvae of some species. Two hymenopterans parasitize caddisflies. The parasitic wasp seeks its host underwater and lays its eggs inside the caddisfly larval case. The parasitic larva devours the caddisfly larva and remains inside the case to pupate, after which the adult parasite overwinters in the case and emerges in the early summer. Predators of caddisfly larvae and pupae include fish and other aquatic animals, such as other insects and crayfish.
When the caddisfly larvae are full grown in late Spring or early Summer, they are ready to go into a resting stage or pupate. Each larva attaches its case to the bottom, or to a rock or plant. Then it plugs up the hole of its case. The caddis fly stays a pupa for two weeks. At the end of several weeks, the pupa is able to push its way out of its case and finds its way to the surface. Larvae that are born at the end of Summer overwinter and change the following year.
Caddisfly larvae feed during the day. They are grazers and eat whatever they can find on the bottom, including algae, fungi, detritus, and very small invertebrates. Larvae are active in very cold water and can frequently be observed feeding under ice. No doubt the Peeking Caddis fly pattern is an excellent winter nymph.
Turn over a few rocks to locate and observe a few caddis cases. Note the color of the abdomen and thorax of the larva within the case. A simple match of the body colors is generally effective for a larva imitation while on the stream.
Fly of the Month 7.16
Peeking Caddis
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker
Peeking Caddis
Recipe :
Hook : Tiemco 3679 or equivalent, size 12.14,16,18
Thread : Tan or Black 8/0
Bead : Gold or Black to match hook size
Case : Hare’s Ear light
Legs : Hungarian Partridge (brown)
Caddis : Antron, white
- Debarb and add the bead before mounting in the vise. Once secure on the vise and tie in the thread immediately behind the bead.
- Select a two inch piece of antron and tie in with a small length protruding past the bend on top of the hook shank starting the thread at the bead and ending just before the bend. This will represent the caddis. Let the bobbin hang.
- Carefully use a lighter to singe and melt the antron to mimic the head of the caddis. This will also prevent the antron from fraying.
- Select a partridge feather from the lower back between the wings. Pull the longer barbs back and leave a small “vee” of barbs at the tip of the feather. Trim the excess barbs in the vee to leave a small triangle. Tie in the triangle at the hook bend. Make two wraps of partridge to form legs. Trim waste and let the bobbin hang.
- Dub the thread with hare’s ear and make tight touching turns to the bead. Whip finish and cut thread. Pick out the hare’s ear dub to “roughen” up the case.