Caddis Flies
Caddis flies, unlike your mayfly fly or stonefly flies, have a complete life cycle because they pupate. Pupation is often called a resting stage as the insects transform from larva to adult. These flies mate on dry ground or in streamside vegetation beyond the reach of hungry trout. Once emerged, most adults fly off to shoreline vegetation to mate. Some species, particularly those inhabiting lakes scurry and scamper prior to flight, leaving speedboat wakes for trout to hone in on. The caddis dry fly come in many varieties and profiles as well. With over 10,000 species worldwide and 1,400 in North America alone, this complex and diverse order is unique to say the least. Within the 22 caddis families found across the continent lies a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and most importantly behaviors.
To name the caddis flies for caddis fly fishing is not an easy thing to do. There are so many that work best on certain rivers and that makes this a hard choice. Caddis fly fishing can be a test of switching your caddis dry fly constantly to figure out what stage and profile they are looking for. Dry fly caddis will test you to the fullest within every given hatch. These flies can vary from this species to the next. The trout have a good handle on what is the most prolific in any caddis dry fly hatch, so it’s up to us to figure this out. Caddis flies can vary from the adult version down to the emerger and beyond. To name just a few caddis dry fly would be going out on a limb. The best caddis dry fly patterns range from the all-knowing, Elk Hair Caddis, to the EC Caddis, to the Parachute Caddis. All in which should be on hand when caddis fly fishing is present. Caddis dry fly patterns come in to play at different times when they are prolific. One day they want a specific CDC pattern, when the next they won't even look at it. So, to call out a best caddis flies becomes quite difficult.
In the end caddis fly fishing can be daunting to say the least. But in every shape and form you will love it. Trying to figure this hatch out at times will make you go nuts in the best way. We will say this though, when you figure it out, its game on, but not before you check out or selection of caddis flies for sale on our website.