June 2024 - 29

This rainbow trout was caught on an elk hair caddis. (Photo by Lisa Ballard)
Examples of caddis emerger patterns include Bastian's
floating caddis emerger, the emerging caddis
CDC and the S/L caddis emerger. Emerger patterns
can be fished dry, or allowed to sink just beneath
the film which is how I often fish.
If fish are rising to caddis, their movements
provide a powerful clue as to their preference of
emergers versus adults. Loud, splashy rises indicate
trout zooming after adults. More subtle, nipping
rises are indicative of eating emergers. Not sure?
If an angler is comfortable handling a tandem rig,
casting an adult and emerger patterns at the same
time is a perfectly logical solution.
Dry flies aren't the only way to get into the caddis
action. Nymph patterns matching the larval and
pupal morphs of the bugs are frequently taken
more readily than the dries, even during a hatch.
As caddis larvae live in the bottom of a stream,
imitations are typically fast-sinking nymphs, often
paired with additional weight on the tippet. Among
the most popular flies for larval caddis are the
family of Czech nymphs. Developed in Eastern
Europe, these flies are normally weighted with
wire around the hook and often carry a tungsten
beadhead. They sink quickly into riffles and pocket
water, where they may be fished with a high stick
method involving a short, taut line from the rod
tip in close proximity to the angler. Alternatively,
Czech nymphs can be drifted in a traditional manner
under a strike indicator just above or bouncing
on the streambed.
Caddis pupa nymphs may account for the hottest
action of the day. Pupa drift in the current as they
ascend to hatch making them a simple target for
trout. Try a two-fly rig of pupa imitations, such
as a beadhead caddis pupa or a Krystal caddis at
various depths. At the end of the drift, let the line
straighten or swing before recasting. This propels
the fly in an upward motion like a real, rising pupa
and often prompts the most determined strikes.
Often overlooked and occasionally misunderstood,
caddis are a staple for trout in most Wyoming
streams. Whether fishing a dry fly or a nymph, a
caddis pattern is often the best way to connect trout
and angler. Burckhardt told me about a historical
fly-fishing text in which the author complained
about a problem stream with not enough mayflies
and too many caddis. For anglers who understand
how to fish imitations of these intriguing insects,
caddis are far more a possibility than a problem.
- Jack Ballard is a freelance writer and frequent contributor
to Wyoming Wildlife magazine.
Wyoming Wildlife | 29

June 2024

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