Rowley's Stillwater Caddis
Fly of the Month 07.25 - Stillwater Caddis
Once at the surface, the adult phase caddis crawls out of its pupal shuck, dries its wings, and then runs across the surface of the lake before flying off to mate. Fish actively chase down the adult caddis which actually “walks on water!”. Rise forms are evidence of feeding activity occurs. During this time, fly fishing adult caddis imitations in stillwater is as straight forward as casting one out on a floating fly line, and then skillfully retrieving it in 4- to 8-inch long continuous strips that imitate a real caddis running across the surface film.
Caddis are a significant source of food for stillwater ponds, lakes and river trout. These insects can hatch from late April through early September. The strongest hatches occur in early May, labeled the Mother’s Day caddis hatch, then often well into the summer. Stillwater is home to dozens of caddis species and knowing them all is not necessary for catching more fish. During the summer season from mid-June through August, caddis can hatch at any time during the day. Caddis pupae and larvae size 10 to size 22 are active year-round. Stillwater evening caddis hatches can be very pronounced, allowing fly fishing anglers an hour or so of challenging twilight fishing.
October caddis may not be a significant source of food for trout on stillwaters. Yet theses orange-like adult caddis are large in size aquatic insects that hatch in the fall. Compared to other hatches, an emergence of October caddis is limited to a few flying insects. But an opportunistic trout may feed on this large caddis species in size 8 or size 10 if it happens float overhead for the fish to gulp.
Great imitations of the adult stillwater caddis are the Traveling Sedge, the Motor Boat Caddis, floating deer or elk hair patterns like the Tom Thumb, Elk Hair Caddis, Mikaluk Sedge, and Goddard Caddis. The stillwater caddis emergence is only a couple of weeks in duration. Phil Rawley’s Synthetic Sedge works equally well and takes less time to tie.
Once at the surface, the adult phase caddis crawls out of its pupal shuck, dries its wings, and then runs across the surface of the lake before flying off to mate. Fish actively chase down the adult caddis which actually “walks on water!”. Rise forms are evidence of feeding activity occurs. During this time, fly fishing adult caddis imitations in stillwater is as straight forward as casting one out on a floating fly line, and then skillfully retrieving it in 4- to 8-inch long continuous strips that imitate a real caddis running across the surface film.
Caddis are a significant source of food for stillwater ponds, lakes and river trout. These insects can hatch from late April through early September. The strongest hatches occur in early May, labeled the Mother’s Day caddis hatch, then often well into the summer. Stillwater is home to dozens of caddis species and knowing them all is not necessary for catching more fish. During the summer season from mid-June through August, caddis can hatch at any time during the day. Caddis pupae and larvae size 10 to size 22 are active year-round. Stillwater evening caddis hatches can be very pronounced, allowing fly fishing anglers an hour or so of challenging twilight fishing.
October caddis may not be a significant source of food for trout on stillwaters. Yet theses orange-like adult caddis are large in size aquatic insects that hatch in the fall. Compared to other hatches, an emergence of October caddis is limited to a few flying insects. But an opportunistic trout may feed on this large caddis species in size 8 or size 10 if it happens float overhead for the fish to gulp.
Great imitations of the adult stillwater caddis are the Traveling Sedge, the Motor Boat Caddis, floating deer or elk hair patterns like the Tom Thumb, Elk Hair Caddis, Mikaluk Sedge, and Goddard Caddis. The stillwater caddis emergence is only a couple of weeks in duration. Phil Rawley’s Synthetic Sedge works equally well and takes less time to tie.
Adult Stillwater Caddis - Phil Rawley’s Synthetic Sedge
Hook: Daiichi 1760, size 8, 10, 12
Thread: 8/0 Pale olive
Underbody: MFC Photo Foam, mottled olive 2 mm
Tail: Semperfli Poly-Yarn, medium dun
Body: Semperfli, straggle string
color> match the hatch
Wing: Semperfli Poly-Yarn, medium dun
Legs: MFC Speckled Sexi Legs, olive
Hook: Daiichi 1760, size 8, 10, 12
Thread: 8/0 Pale olive
Underbody: MFC Photo Foam, mottled olive 2 mm
Tail: Semperfli Poly-Yarn, medium dun
Body: Semperfli, straggle string
color> match the hatch
Wing: Semperfli Poly-Yarn, medium dun
Legs: MFC Speckled Sexi Legs, olive