The Time Proven Caddis Fly

I am often asked, at times, what is your all-time favorite surface fly to fish on the Sipsey Tailrace and Simth Lake during the Spring and Summer months? My response is the Caddis dry fly. For this post, I will only cover the surface aspects of this fly, not the subsurface stages the fly goes through to become airborne. Why is the fly so effective in fly fishing? It's a staple in the diet of many fish species, particularly trout, and it's so realistic that it can trigger fish to strike it even when other flies don't produce. Caddis flies are widespread in streams and rivers across many regions, making them a familiar and reliable food source for fish. When a hatch occurs, fish actively hunt them, making caddis fly patterns incredibly productive. They have a unique, skittering movement across the water surface when they emerge to the surface film. Skittering can produce an automatic bluegill, bass, or trout strike that might otherwise be a static fly. 

The presentation of the caddis plays an integral part in the angler getting the fish's attention. I strive to get the fly to light on the water's surface as if it fell off an overhanging limb on the bank or if it has just touched the water's surface lightly. Most of the time, no movement of the fly is needed to get attention from bluegill, bass, or trout, but a slight movement of your tippet will guarantee a hit if the fish is near. 

I use Fly Shack patterns when fishing at Smith Lake and the Sipsey Tailrace. For Smith Lake, sizes 8 and 10 work best, while for the Sipsey, I prefer sizes 14 and 16. I only opt for a larger Caddis pattern at the Sipsey when I fish it as an indicator, rigged with a small nymph underneath.

As most of you know, dry flies need help staying afloat, whether in choppy water or on calm days. Over the past couple of years, I have experimented with different types of floatants, and this year, the product that really got my attention was the Fly Shack brand "Stay Dry." I used it this year and found that I could fish the fly for several hours before reapplying the solution; it’s an excellent product!

When other flies fail to attract fish, it often indicates that the fish are either uninterested in what is being offered or are spooked by unnatural presentations. Due to its realistic movement and variety of color patterns, the caddis fly is one that I will continue to use for the rest of my fishing days.

 

The Versatile Caddis Fly

 When one thinks of the Caddis Fly they relate it to fly fishing for trout. I have fished this fly numerous times on the Sipsey mainly using it as an indicator fly. There were times when I would get a trout to inhale the Caddis while slow drifting a nymph under it. Which was a plus because I was trying to get the trout to take a smaller nymph drifting below. I use the traditional dry-dropper combo more now on the Sipsey because of the fishing pressure. I remember previous years fishing the Sipsey I never used the dry-dropper combo. I only fished a nymph using the various strike indicator on the market. 

On my last trip to the Sipsey, which was a bust for me, no trout touched; started me thinking of using this fly to fish for the giant bluegill on Smith Lake. So two weeks ago, I gave the fly a try casting it near the rock walls in Ryan Creek.

I was impressed with how the bluegills reacted to this fly. At times they would pull it under, and other times they would explode on it. I have written in a past post about how wary these fish can be in hitting a particular color or size popper. So when they are not hitting a popper consistently, it is good to have a backup fly that will get their attention. Enter the Caddis in size ten, but I think a size eight would be better. The extra body on the size eight wouldn't require me to use as much floatant and give the fish a bigger fly to see. Simple to use just cast it using a 3wt. with a 6X tippet and wait for the take while it sits motionless on the surface. I seldom ever move it after it touches the surface. Having success with the Caddis makes me want to give the Adams and the Wulff a try!