The following represents the process of emergence:

First Hesitation:

Usually, hours before the main hatch, some caddisflies begin appearing. The insect leaves the cocoon or shelter and will crawl or drift along the bottom currents while internal gasses fill the Papal Sheath. When sufficient buoyancy is achieved, the Caddis begins its ascent to the underside of the menicus (water film). They are easy prey at this time and fish will actively seek them out.

Second Hesitation

Just under the surface the Caddis again drifts for some distance as it struggles to break free of its Pupal Sheath and through the menicus to the waters surface.

Appearance

The larvae are grub-like in appearance and hide from predators by either building silk-like netting in front of a rocky crevice in which the larvae will seek shelter or the larvae will build a protective case by binding together small rocks, twigs, leaves, decaying organic debris and other materials that are available to the insect.

Habitat

The Caddis Fly or Sedge is able to withstand a wide variety of water conditions. However, they seem to prefer shallow, cool, well-oxygenated waters. A few species are predacious but most obtain their food from algae, diatoms, decaying plants and animal materials that form along the streambed.

Adult Caddis

Many of the emerging Caddis (Sedge) is not able to escape the pupal shuck and become a significant food source for the fish. These 'cripples' are consumed during the hatch or wash up in collecting areas where they are taken by trout well after the hatch has ended. Once the successful emergence has been made the Adults are usually taken while they are hatching and letting their wings dry, or when they return to the waters surface to either drink water or lay eggs.

Once the wings are capable of flight the insect will fly to the streamside vegetation. These insects will spend the next two weeks to two months, depending on the specific species, hanging on the underside of the streamside vegetations foliage. The insect will fly to the waters surface several times a day for water in order to prevent dehydration.

Caddis Egg Laying

Caddis Egg laying is generally accomplished in one the following methods:

First, you have to realize that these insects don't act anything like the mayfly. Once hatched and quickly air-born, these insects will hang around the streamside vegetation for one to several days. As evening approaches, the caddis adults do their mating and start fluttering around the streamside brush in anticipation of the evening hours and the time to lay their eggs. The egg laying won't begin until the sun dips below the treetops. Then and only then, will the female want to lay her eggs. The female will always perform her egg laying activities in the rapid or riffled areas of the stream.

• Caddis females dip or sprawl onto the surface of the stream. They will drag their abdomen across the surface of the water to scrape the eggs off and into the water.
  
  
• Some Caddis will crawl down into the water using the stem or foliage of streamside vegetation and even the rocks that lie along the waters edge. Once the insect has broken the water film (menicus) the female will crawl to the bottom and paste the eggs to the underside of rocks or decaying organic debris.
  
  
• The Diving Caddis will dive onto the surface film in order to break through. Once into the water the Caddis will swim to the bottom areas to perform the arduous chore of eggpasting. These female Caddis insects are coated with air bubbles while underwater. The female will return to the surface and after struggling once again with the menicus, escapes to repeat this egglaying routine in the future perhaps 2-3 times.

Remember that these insects will always do their egg laying in the rough water of rapids or riffles. When the caddis flies return to the rough water to lay eggs, they usually do their duties while flying just barely over the water's surface. The adults usually fly up-stream or across the currents to lay their eggs.

The best way to fish this insect is to use a Caddis Pupa during the actual hatch and at dusk for the egg laying activities, use a Elk Hair Caddis. The Elk Hair imitation, sizes 14, 16 & 18, must be cast up-and-across the stream. Fish the imitation down through the rough water to the head of the pool or run.

The following listing includes the 'family/genus/species' of the groups relevant to trout fishing:

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