Caddis Wet Fly Patterns
Caddis wet flies are very important to fly fishermen. Caddis flies are almost as prevalent as the Mayfly and account for a large portion of the trout’s diet. Caddis Fly Emerger patterns imitate the Larva and Pupa phases of the Caddis fly. Caddis Flies are also a good indicator of Pollution as they will not live in polluted water.
The Caddis Fly Larva are divided into several different groups, each group having different characteristics.
The first group is the Free Living Caddis. This group hangs around under water, clinging to rocks and vegetation, and eating algae. This group only builds a shelter in the last stages as a larva if at all.
The next group of Caddis Fly Larva is the Saddle Case Caddis. This group builds dome shaped cases that completely covers them. As they grow, the case is discarded and they build a new one to fit.
The next group of Caddis Fly Larva is the Net Spinning Caddis. This group builds a house out of local material and then spins a web of fine silk to catch food.
The next group of Caddis Fly Larva is the Tube Case Caddis. This group builds portable cases, and if they are disturbed, they will move, using the current to take them to a new location.
The last group of Caddis Fly Larva is the Purse Cased Caddis. This group builds a shelter of fine silk and sand.
In the Larva stage, the Caddis Fly is a very poor swimmer. In the Pupa stage the Caddis Fly becomes very active and leaves it’s shelter. It is then swept away in the current sometimes in great numbers or swims to the surface.
In the Pupa stage the Caddis fly is a very good swimmer and sometimes swims long distances. Some species of Caddis Pupa will crawl up onto rocks, branches, or the shore and emerge as an Adult Caddis Fly, other species will emerge from their cocoon in the water, and will emerge as adults.
Some of the Emerger Caddis Fly Patterns you should carry in your fly box include;
The Caddis Pupa fly Patterns are especially effective when fish are seeing Caddis Pupas underwater. These patterns are very effective when fishing lakes.
| Olive Caddis Pupa | Emerger Partridge |
| Cream Caddis | Pupa Z Wing |
| Green Caddis |
These patterns imitate a Caddis Pupa that has formed an air bubble so that it can float to the surface.
| Brown Deep Sparkle Pupa | Green Deep Sparkle Pupa |
| Olive Deep Sparkle Pupa | Tan Deep Sparkle Pupa |
These patterns are great fish producers when fished just before the evening hatch, as the emergers are moving towards the surface of the water.
| Olive Flashback Caddis Pupa | Tan Flashback Caddis Pupa |
These patterns are tied to have a lifelike Caddis Profile. These are the patterns to use when there are Caddis flies on the water.
| Peeking Caddis Pupa Chartreuse Reversed Colors | Peeking Caddis Pupa Yellow Reversed Colors |
Trout in any waters seem to love the bugginess of this group of flies;
| Black Serendipity Bead Head | Olive Serendipity Bead Head |
| Orange Serendipity Bead Head | Red Serendipity Bead Head |
| Midge Green Serendipity Bead Head | Tan Serendipity Bead Head |
| Black Serendipity | Lime Serendipity |
| Olive Serendipity< | Orange Serendipity |
| Red Serendipity | Tan Serendipity |
This group of flies is perfect for when the Caddis Flies are hatching. These patterns imitate the emerging Caddis fly as it rises to the surface.
| Black Sparkle Pupa Emerger | Brown Sparkle Pupa Emerger |
| Green Sparkle Pupa Emerger | Olive Sparkle Pupa Emerger |
| Tan Sparkle Pupa Emerger |
Some additional Caddis wet fly patterns you will want to carry in your fly box include;
| American Grannom | Bright Green Diving Caddis |
| Brown Dredgebug | Buckskin Caddis |
| Caddis Filo Pupa | Cased Caddis |
| Cinnamon Sedge Pupa | Colorado Caddis |
| Cream Caddis Midge Nymph | Dark Caddis Emergent |
| Depth Ray Caddis | Dicosmoecus Cased Caddis |
| Drifting Cased Caddis | Flashabou Caddis |
| Floating Caddis Pupa | Gill-Ribbed Larva |
| Ginger Deep Sparkle Pupa | Ginger Emergent Sparkle Pupa |
| Gray Deep Sparkle Pupa | Gray Diving Caddis |
| Gray Dredgebug | Gray Emergent Sparkle Pupa |
| Green CDC Caddis Emerger | Green Emergent Sparkle Pupa |
| Herl Nymph | Krystal Flash Diving Caddis |
| Krystal Flash Green Rock Worm | Krystal Flash Pupa |
| Lafontaine Cased Caddis | Lafontaine’s Caddis Larva |
| Latex Caddis | Light Caddis Emergent |
| Little Gray Caddis | Little Green Caddis Pupa |
| Little Green Rock Worm | Medium Cased Caddis |
| Muskrat Olive Caddis | Midge Nymph |
| Olive CDC Caddis Emerger | Olive Randall’s Caddis |
| Orange Tied Down | Caddis Peacock Larva |
| Peeking Caddis | Rhyacophila Caddis |
| Salmon Candy No 1 | Salmon Candy No 2 |
| Salmon Candy No 3 | Skimming Caddis |
| Skunk Hair Caddis | Solomon’s Caddis Pupa |
| Speckled Sedge | SRI Caddis Larva |
| SRI Caddis | Pupa Strawman |
| Swannundaze Caddis | Tan Diving Caddis |
| Tan Randall’s Caddis | Tied Down Caddis |
| Translucent Caddis Pupa | Trueblood’s Caddis |
| White Larva | Yellow Tied Down Caddis |