Caddis

Written By: Dick Babine

Jason Neuswanger of troutnut.com and Richard J. Babine of richard@thebabines.com have generously authorized the use of all macro photographs used in this chapter.

Kingdom:	Animalia	(Animals)
Phylum:	Arthropoda	(Arthropods)
Class:	Insecta	(Insects)
Order:	Trichoptera	(Caddisflies)

Common Names: Caddis Fly or Sedge

General information:

The Caddisfly or Sedge is the aquatic cousin to butterflies and moths. In fact the adult Caddis Fly or Sedge looks much like a moth except that it doesn’t have the scaly wings or the siphon tube of the mouth. The common or slang term ‘Sedge’ originates from the fact that adult Caddis Flies can often be found clinging to the sedge grass which is found along the edge of rivers and streams.

There are some 1200 species in the North America. This creature has a life cycle of about one year. Another fact to be keenly aware of is that the Larvae are about 25% larger than the Pupa that emerge from it during the five or so instars that the immature Caddisfly goes through before becoming an adult. Sedge/Caddis flies have four (4) wings. The forward pair is normally a little longer than those at the rear. At rest their wings lie close along the body in an inverted V shape. Caddis/Sedge flies do not have tails but many have long antenna.

A caddis hatch on the Pleasant River in Windham, Maine

A caddis hatch on the Pleasant River in Windham, Maine

Some fly anglers would argue that the Caddisfly is even more of a hoot, than mayflies. There is more than enough scientific evidence available to come to the conclusion that caddis larvae, pupae and even adult caddis, can and do make up the greatest share of a trout’s diet. Another fact that must be considered by the Maine Angler is that, by far, most feeding activities are below the streams surface.

Caddis Flies go through a complete life cycle of egg, larval, pupal and the adult stage. The caddis fly will emerge in the same area that it spent its larval life. Prior to hatching activities many species will drift along with the currant at the bottom of the water column, sometimes for hours. While they drift along, they become prime targets for hungry fish.

Pupa of different species will emerge in one of three different ways. Most species will rise to the surface only to find it a struggle to break through the surface film. They will take flight quickly once they’re through the surface. Some other slower species will struggle and at the same time, drift long distances while half-submerged as they attempt to free themselves of their pupal shucks.

The pupae of some species will crawl out of the water onto stream vegetation, boulders, rocks, downfalls, sticks, and on and on, so that the insect can complete the emergence high and dry. The third method would be that some pupae will slowly rise to the surface and skidder quickly across towards streamside, where they will crawl out of the water to complete the emergence.

Unlike mayflies almost all species of caddis are quite good swimmers. They will use their legs as paddles rather than wiggling their bodies to move through or across the water.

After the emergence, Caddisfly adults can live for quite sometime. Unlike the mayfly, caddisflies are able to drink and therefore avoid dehydration. The length of time that the adult caddisflies will be active can last for a few days to a few months, depending on the genus and species, so mating adults can be observed on or over the streams long after the insect’s emergence.

Adult mating usually occurs on the ground or among shoreline vegetation. After fertilization the female will deposit the bright green eggs, which are usually laid in strands. The eggs sink to the bottom and after a week or two hatches into tiny worm like grubs (larvae), in shades of green, grey, and dirty white. Some species build protective cases out of sand, gravel or bits of organic debris or even form silk netting to both protect and camouflage themselves from predators.

There are several different methods that female caddis will use to lay its eggs. Some species will dive underwater to lay their eggs right on the stream bottom. Other species will crawl down the sides of aquatic vegetation, stones, rocks, sticks and other objects that protrude into the water. Other species will lay their eggs directly on the streams surface in various ways.

They may fly very low over the stream and drop the eggs onto the surface or make repeated abdominal dips into the water in order to release the eggs. Others will actually land on the streams surface repeatedly fluttering and skittering across the surface in an attempt to release the eggs from the abdomen. There are even very inactive species that will simply fall to the streams surface as spent adults.

There are even others that will land on the surface and ride along the currants, laying their eggs. Most however will just swim down through the water column and deposit their eggs on the streams bottom. The latter are by far my favorite and responsible for almost all of my caddis action and resulting success.

For the most part, caddis larvae can be divided into five basic groups; Free-living, Net Spinners, Saddle-case makers, Purse-case makers, and the Tube-case makers. Most caddis species exist inside cases they build out of very small bits of gravel, sand, twigs, small pieces of leaves, decaying organic matter, and even spin its own silk case. As the larva grows, from time to time, it needs to either replace the old outgrown case or renovate their existing case. Some species will carry the case around with them and others will attach the case to underwater structures.

Some common caddis larvae will build fine nets instead of a case. These nets are not the larva’s home but an ingenious method of capturing food such as plankton and other smaller aquatic insects that the larva will consume. One caddis larva can actually build a few net traps and roam freely about the area from one net to the other ingesting everything that is caught. These net building caddis larvae are members of the Hydropsychidae, Philopotamidae and the Arctopsychidae families.

One large predator group of caddisflies, the Rhyacophilidae, lives without nets or cases and prefers to roam about the bottom of riffled areas, killing and eating other aquatic insect larvae and mayfly nymphs.

*Note* There is a period of time when both mayfly nymphs and caddis fly larvae are very available to feeding fish. This occurs when these aquatic insects outgrow their pupal and nymphal exoskeletons (Shucks). These aquatic insects will roam about trying to find a suitable location to shed their outgrown shucks. They will even release their substrate grip and simply drift downstream with the currants. This activity goes unnoticed by the angler above and usually occurs during the low light conditions of both morning and evening.

The caddisfly is not difficult to find or identify. Just pick up any small rock or boulder in the stream and you’ll find examples of the most prominent species to imitate with your favorite pattern.

All maturing caddis go through a pupal stage by sealing themselves inside their cases. While sealed up and protected, the insect goes through a final aquatic metamorphosis. When nature calls, the pupa cuts itself free of the retreat. Once free from the retreat, the pupae can either release a gas inside the membranous skin, which buoys it to the surface or it may make a run for shore across the waters surface. Some species will even crawl across the bottom of the water column, in order to get to the banking. This is the period that fish will be on the prowl for these defenseless free meals.

Maine’s #1 Caddis Winter Sedge

Family:	Philoptamidae
Genus:	Dolophilodes (Medium Evening Sedge)
Species:	distinctus (Tiny Black Gold Speckled-winged Sedge)
Common Name:	Winter Sedge
Larval Case:	Net Filtered Finger Tube
Larval Type:	Fixed Tube Case
Larval Habitat:	Fast Cool Currents
Larval Activity:	April 1 through June 30 and October 14 through November 7
Pupal Activity:	July7 through September 30 and November 14 through December 30
Emergence:	The Winter Emergence is in both January and February, with a peak emergence in February. Time: Late morning until Noon, (10am – 12pm) The Summer Emergence will happen during both July and August, with the peak during August. Time: 8am sporadically during the day.
Oviposting:	Subsurface
Suggested Imitations:	Larval: #16-18 Brassie Pupal: #18- 20 Grouse and Flash Emerger: #20-22 Foam Emerger Adult: #20-22 Delta-winged Caddis

Insect History

This winter sedge is a most confusing caddis. The darn thing has two distinct emergent periods, one being in the winter and the other right smack dap in the middle of summer. One could make an argument that this species must be multi-brooded but I can find no written conformation. Biologically speaking, once the female deposits her fertilized eggs, the development of the egg to the hatched larvae is for the most part written within the insect’s DNA.

This biological fact alone suggests multiple broods. This means that the winter insects will lay the fertilized eggs for a midsummer emergence and these insects will in turn lay their fertilized eggs for the winter emergence. The above information also means that this species has a six month life cycle.

Distinctus is the most interesting and important of the 8 known species in this genus. This species is the only one that has two distinct and separate emergent cycles. It is also the most abundant in the East and Midwest.

Larval Activity: July 1 – September 14 again December 14 – March 14

The larvae, builds a long tubular retreat, woven with silk and shaped like an airport wind-sock. They prefer the undersides of rocks and boulders of medium currents. These insects are net-spinners and weave the finest filter net, in which they collect very small food particles. Because of their reduced breathing abilities, they prefer the cooler waters of smaller rivers and streams and particularly in the tailwaters of bottom-release dams.

Pupal Activity: July 7 – Sep 21 Jan 14 – Feb 21

The pupae will surface well below the fast water and start their bizarre run for the edge of the stream. They have been described as running crazily, fluttering, skidding or just plain taking a bead and heading for the shore. These insect don’t bother to shed their pupal shucks prior to making the trip but accomplish the feat within their skins. Once they reach the safety of the shoreline, they then shed their pupal shucks and emerge as adults. This weird event will take place around 8a.m. in the summer emergence and about 9a.m. during the winter emergence. Both emergences will peak at midmorning and end before noon.

Here’s another very strange occurrence, this insect emerges with wings during the summer hatch and without fully developed wings during the winter emergence.

Note

In the late fall and winter, fish have only a few feeding opportunities, such as, Stonefly Nymphs, Midges, and of course the Winter Sedge. In the summer, you can only imagine the various creatures that a fish can choose from, almost endless.

Emergence Activity: Sporadic from Jul 14 to Sep 21 again from Jan 21 to Mar 14 Peak Feb

The actual emergence, from pupae to adult, will take place on dry land and therefore of no use to the angler. But, fish the pupal stage and key in on the time period between 10am to 2pm.

Maine’s #2 Caddisfly Apple or Dark Grannom

Family:	Brachycentridae (Apple Caddis and Dark Grannoms)
Genus:	Brachycentrus (Grannoms)
Species:	numerosus (Sided Tube Casemaker)
Common Name:	Apple Caddis, Dark Grannom, Shadfly
Larval Case:	Sided Tube of wood debris
Larval Type:	Surface Scrapper and Particle Trapping
Larval Habitat:	Fast Water (Riffles & Medium to fast Runs)
Larval Activity:	March 7 through May 30
Pupal Activity:	May 1 through May 30
Emergence:	May 1 through May 30 (Mid-Afternoon)
Hook:	Larvae #12 & #14 Pupae #14 to #18 Adult # 14 to #18
Suggested Imitations:	Larvae Dark Cased Caddis, Herl Cased Caddis, Fur Peeping Caddis Pupae Deep Sparkle Pupa, Emergent Sparkle Pupa, Tan Caddis Emerger Adult Henryville Special, Dette Caddis, Quad Wing Spent Caddis

Larval Stage: March 21 to April 28

The American Dark Grannom is the most widespread species of Caddisfly. There are a few traits that make this species very important to the Maine Angler. Of main importance is the fact that this species often will hatch in broad daylight. Along with this, comes the fact that prior to the actual emergence is the insect will drift along in the biological drift for quite some time. The third important piece of useful information is that the females will oviposit on the waters surface. They will hatch during late warm spring afternoons and then return during the hours at and just after dusk. Because of its solid, tapered case, it can exist in cool riffled areas of the stream.

This species is classified as a scraper and gatherer. The Larvae will attach its case to the surrounding stones, rocks, boulders or other submerged surfaces. Then by extending itself beyond the protective case, it can scrape or harvest the surrounding algae or extend enough from its case to capture with its legs, drifting plant, decaying organic and other food particles.

Note

This creature will also, to the delight of many anglers, use a fine white strand of silk, repel downstream in search of either food or a better location to migrate and establish a new case location.

The above mentioned activity allows this species to be readily available for feeding fish. Trout will actively swallow these insects case and all. Sometime later the fish will expel the case void of its former tenant. As the various food sources start to level off in the fall, trout will eagerly seek this species to fatten up before the cold months ahead. As this species matures in the fall, it coincides with the fact that other food sources grow scarce for prowling fish. For this reason, these cased caddis will make up a very large pert of a fishes diet.

Pupal Stage: May 7 to June 14

Hatching will almost always start in mid-afternoon and can at times overlap the oviposting of females that hatched days before. Once free of its case, the newly free Pupae will swim by using its middle legs as oars and rise through the water column towards the surface.

Prior to its ascent the insect will produce gas just under the pupal skin to assist in its dash towards the surface. Once just under the surface, the insect will struggle to free itself of the pupal sheath. This activity will cause surrounding fish to act quickly before the insects can break through the surface film and quickly become airborne. Once egg lying has been completed, females will become spent and float on the surface only to be consumed by opportunistic feeding trout.

Adult Stage: May 7 to June 14

New England’s tan and black species are among the earliest hatches and will commence anytime after the middle of March and will peak sometime around the end of May.

The oviposting female will carry a green, large egg ball and will skidder or bounce across the waters surface in order to dislodge the egg mass onto the streams surface. The oviposting activity will occur just before sunset. Some species will actually use the exposed rocks, boulders, and stream vegetation to crawl below the waters surface to deposit the eggs.

Tactics

In the case of the Larvae of this species, use a Brassie; drift your unweighted larval offering along the bottom by attaching the weight some 6” to 12” above the fly. Often times these larvae will migrate as a group and when this migration occurs use more than one fly to take advantage of this activity.

Remember that I mentioned that the caddis will use silk to repel downstream? Well here’s Gary LaFontaine’s famous trick and that’s to whiten the first several inches of the tippet from the fly towards the butt end of leader. This will imitate the Grannoms silk tether. Dead-drift the offering through and well beyond the better holding lies. Keep repeating this tactic until you have covered the suspected lies. Once you’ve located a feeding fish, attach a split shot 6” above the whitened section of the tippet. This will hang the fly from a rock or rock crevice and then your unweighted offering will undulate with the currant and appear quite natural to the eager fish, just down-stream.

As for the Pupal Stage, use the Deep Sparkle Pupa, which imitates the pupae that has just released itself from its case and has ascended to the streams surface. It is designed to be fished on the bottom and upwards to the surface. Using the Emergent Sparkle Pupa grease the tippet some 10 to 12 inches above the fly. This will only allow the fly to sink just below the surface. Now cast this up and across to allow the offering to drift drag-free downstream. The Emergent Sparkle Pupa is designed to represent the adult escaping from its pupal sheath just below the surface.

Maine’s #3 The Ring-Horned Microcaddis

Family:	Philoptamidae
Genus:	Dolophilodes (Medium Evening Sedge)
Species:	distinctus (Tiny Black Gold Speckled-winged Sedge)
Common Name:	Winter Sedge
Larval Case:	Net Filtered Finger Tube
Larval Type:	Fixed Tube Case
Larval Habitat:	Fast Cool Currents
Larval Activity:	April 1 through June 30 and October 14 through November 7
Pupal Activity:	July7 through September 30 and November 14 through December 30
Emergence:	The Winter Emergence is in both January and February, with a peak emergence in February. Time: Late morning until Noon, (10am – 12pm) The Summer Emergence will happen during both July and August, with the peak during August. Time: 8am sporadically during the day.
Oviposting:	Subsurface
Suggested Imitations:	Larval: #16-18 Brassie Pupal: #18- 20 Grouse and Flash Emerger: #20-22 Foam Emerger Adult: #20-22 Delta-winged Caddis

Insect History

Larval Activity: July 1 – September 14 again December 14 – March 14

Pupal Activity: July 7 – Sep 21 Jan 14 – Feb 21

Note

Emergence Activity: Sporadic from Jul 14 to Sep 21 again from Jan 21 to Mar 14 Peak Feb

The actual emergence, from pupae to adult, will take place on dry land and therefore of no use to the angler. But, fish the pupal stage and key in on the time period between 10am to 2pm.

Maine’s #2 Caddisfly Apple or Dark Grannom

Family:	Hydroptilidae (Microcaddisflies)
Genus:	Leucotrichia (Ring-Horned Microcaddisflies)
Species:	pictipes (Ring Horned Microcaddis)
Common Name:	Ring-horned Microcaddis
Larval Case:	Purse Cased (Permanent flat oval convex silk case)
Larval Type:	Surface Scrapper of both algae and plankton.
Larval Habitat:	Fast Water (Riffles & Medium to fast Runs)
Larval Activity:	April 7 through May 14
Pupal Activity:	May 14 through August 14
Emergence:	May 14 through August 14
Hook:	Larvae N/A (Not available to feeding fish) Pupae #22 to #26 (Brown & Black) Adult # 20 to #22 (Brown & Black)
Suggested Imitations:	Larvae: N/A Pupae: Grouse & Flash (Same Color) Adult: Ginger Diving Caddis (Same Color)

These guys are real small and for that reason most fly anglers will stay clear of using them. Bad mistake, because like the Tricorythodes (Tricos) mayflies, Microcaddisflies can be important to trout as a solid food source because of their sheer numbers in local waters.

Both fly anglers and budding entomologists know these diminutive flies as "Microcaddisflies." The term refers to this family specifically, not to all tiny caddisflies. Many are large enough for imitation on small hooks, but some are impossibly small, as tiny as hook size 36. The adult insect has both the antennae and legs lightly banded close to the ends, hence the name ring-horned caddis.

This species is abundant across the northern United States. It can be extremely abundant -- Gary LaFontaine tells in Caddisflies of a population estimate putting this species at 5,000 per square foot in parts of the Madison River. If have found it very abundant in the Midwest as well, though probably not quite to that extreme. You can see this in my underwater photos.

Larval Stage: April 7 through May 14

These silken cases can be found on large rocks and small boulders. One of the unique behaviors of this insect in its’ larval stage is that the bug will not build its shelter until its fifth and last

Instar:

Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae, although they do speed through the first four instars.

Leucotrichia pictipes, builds an oval silk cases (Purse Cased Caddis) which at first are not recognizable as caddis cases at all to anyone not familiar with the species.

Pupal Activity: May 14 through August 14

Hydroptilidae larvae don't build cases until their fifth and last instar. This insect will mutate within its Purse Case. Once the insect has gone through the metamorphosis to the Pupal Stage, it will exit the Purse Case and rise to the surface to emerge as an adult.

Hatching Activity: May 14 through August 14

This is the stage that most fly anglers will key in on and fish their imitations just below the waters surface. Pupae emerge on the surface, where they struggle for a long time to break through. These pupal struggles will attract the attention of area fish.

Oviposting Activities

LaFontaine describes the unique egg-laying behavior of this species in Caddisflies: When the females return to lay their eggs and crawl down the backside of the rocks, so many slip into the currents that trout stack up behind midstream obstructions.

Some females of this same species will even dive to the bottom to lay their eggs.

Maine’s # 4 Caddisfly Little Sister Sedge

Family:	Hydropsychidae (Little Sister Sedges)
Genus:	Cheumatopsyche (Little Sister Sedges)
Species:	harwoodi (Little Sister Sedge)
Common Name:	Olive Caddis/Little Sister Sedge
Larval Case:	None
Larval Type:	(Net Spinner)
Larval Habitat:	Fast Water
Larval Activity:	June 7 through July 14
Pupal Activity:	July 14 through September 28
Emergence:	July 14 through September 28
Hook:	Larvae: #14 - #18 Pupae: #12 - #16 Adult: #14 - #16
Suggested Imitations:	Larvae: Simple Caddis Larvae, Net Spinning Larvae, Czech Nymph, Net-spinning Larvae Pupae: Yellow Caddis Emerger, Grouse and Flash Adult: Hare’s Ear Caddis, Cinnamon Caddis

General information:

The common name, Little Sister Sedge, refers to its relationship between Cheumatopsyche and its closely related Genus, Hydropsyche (Spotted Sedge). Although C. harwoodi is the smaller of the two, and also somewhat less important, the over riding fact is that it must still be considered for what it is—one of the most prominent and valuable species in our Maine waters.

These insects, prior to their emergence will drift along with the biological drift for quite sometime, either just below the surface or along the bottom. This and the fact that this species has a real difficult time breaking through the meniscus, makes it a real winner for the Maine Angler. Another trait of this species is that the female will dive into the water and deposit her eggs along the bottom. Once the egg laying has been completed, the female will just drift along without making any attempt to quickly rise to the waters surface. These important activities make them exceptionally vulnerable to feeding fish.

Larval

The Hydropsychidae is the main family of net-spinning caddis. They prefer to protect themselves by spinning a small net just in front of a crevice, crack, and hollowed out area of rock, or in front of any opening that it is protected from roaming predators. These small, fine nets are only between .5 and 2.0 cm across. The nets are used collect and or trap microscopic organisms that come along with the currents biological drift. One larva can attend to more than one net.

When the need arises, the larvae will use a fine white strand of silk to repel along the rock face, between rocks and boulders, or along the bottom to relocate.

Pupae

Many larvae of Hydropsyche and Ceratopsyche (and perhaps the others, though I have not confirmed it) secrete a white line of silk, anchored to a rock on one end. They use it to rappel between rocks in the current, just as spiders or inchworms may use their silk to move around a tree. LaFontaine popularized the trick of whitening the last foot and a half of one’s leader to imitate this anchor line, noting that it improved his success and made the larvae “almost as worthwhile as the pupae and adults.”

On page 231 of Caddisflies, Lafontaine presents a very interesting chart relating the abundance and net mesh size of each Hydropsychidae genus to different habitat factors like river size and water temperature. Rather than try to summarize it here I will recommend that you buy the book.

Tactics

The H. harwoodi larva is a good searching pattern, when fish aren’t feeding selectively. The Czech nymph with about 1 foot of tippet colored white, can be bounced across the bottom. On top or just below the surface, use the Cinnamon Caddis. 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 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 (meniscus) 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 egg pasting. 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 meniscus, escapes to repeat this egg laying 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.

Notice to all Anglers:

You now have some knowledge of Caddisflies and have learned but maybe not practiced the lessons taught. By understanding the life cycle of an insect you can use this knowledge to catch more fish. There are times during the insect’s life cycle that make it attractive to feeding fish. In an area called the Riffle, Caddis will be dislodged by the current and sent downstream in the drift to waiting fish. Fish will spend as much as 75% of its feeding time devoted to picking insects from the drift.

Remember that during the time the Caddis is trying to rise to the surface, the insect is extremely vulnerable to feeding fish. Many of the emerging caddis is not able to escape the pupal shuck and become a significant source of food for 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.

During the insects several trips to the water during the day for water will also provide feeding opportunities for fish.

*** Most Fly Anglers are unaware of the fact that the Caddis (Sedge) is the third most important food source for trout. As a percentage this food source represents 13% of the total food consumed. The daytime samples show that Caddis (Sedge) represents 8% of the total food consumed but the evening figures show that the same insect represents 19% of the fish’s total food consumption. In terms of relative ranking this actually places the Caddis (Sedge) the second most important evening or nighttime food source. Only the fresh water shrimp are more frequently consumed during the low-light conditions of dusk.

*** The Caddis (Sedge) is the one of the last aquatic insects to start hatching in the spring and one of the first to disappear in the fall. This means that during the time they are available to the fish they are one of the primary foods. Yes, from the last week in June until the last weeks of July they are often the main food source for trout.

*** How you present your fly will be determined by the following:

When the Caddis (Sedge) is hatching, just let the fly sit on the surface of the water and wait. While waiting, let the current and winds dictate the imitations travels and always be very mindful of a free-drift and do not retrieve it. When the Sedge (Caddis) is laying eggs you will see it ‘skimming’ over the waters surface. When you see this skimming or traveling of Caddis (Sedge) is when you need to actually retrieve the Dry Fly (Elk Hair Caddis) at about the same speed as the actual insect. In both these cases the Dry Fly will work better if there is a breeze or slight wind as opposed to perfectly calm wind conditions.

Maine’s #5 Caddisfly The Little Black Short Horned Sedge

Family:	Glossosomatidae (Little Black Caddisflies)
Genus:	Glossosoma (Little Black Short-horned Sedges)
Species:	nigrior (Little Black Short-horned Sedge)
Common Name:	Little Black/Tan Sedge
Larval Case:	Saddle Case Maker
Larval Type:	Scrapper
Larval Habitat:	Medium to Fast Water
Larval Activity:	March 28 through May 14
Pupal Activity:	May 14 through September 14
Emergence:	May 14 through September 14
Hook:	Larvae #18 - #20 Pupae #18 - #22 Adult #16 - #18 Wet #16 - #19
Suggested Imitations:	Larvae: Pink Caddis Larva, Brassie Pupae: Foam Caddis Emerger, Tan Caddis Emerger Adult: Diving Caddis, Deer Hair Caddis

Larval Stage

The G. nigrior larvae will build a fixed size turtle-like dome-shape case from small grains of sand, gravel, or very small stones. This species is found together in groups located in cool, turbulent waters where they can have access to tiny bits of sand or gravel from which they will construct their dome cases. The dome case protects them from foraging predators. These larvae are scrapers, grazing around the tops of rocks and small boulders for diatoms and fine organic particles. As the insect roams the surfaces of submerged stones, it will carry its protective shelter along for the ride. The larvae will then have to abandon the case, relocate and build another as it grows. In the process of going from the outgrown case to build a new one, they may accidentally or deliberately end up in the biological drift.

Pupal Stage

The pupae of this species will rise to the surface and then almost with reckless abandon, race towards the waters edge. The sporadic emergence of this species diminishes the importance of the adults and pupae, but they unique period of vulnerability as larvae which can make them very important to the Maine angler.

Adult Stage

This species of caddis has the egg-laying adult female diving onto the water to deposit her eggs directly on the bottom.

Tactics:

Check for rising fish near the heads of pools and the calmer pockets of water just below the riffled areas. You don’t need a long line, but cast up-and-across the established feeding lanes of rising fish. Then you can either raise your rod or strip your line to drag the fly across the surface. This is not the place for a drag free drift. The insect is on top of the water, making a mad dash for the waters edge, so make your offering work by twitches, skittering, wiggles, and other motions created by moving your rod tip from side to side rapidly, to resemble the insects attempt to escape its precarious predicament.

Maine’s #6 Caddis The Green Sedge

Family:	Rhyacophilidae (Green Sedges)
Genus:	Rhyacophila (Green Sedges)
Species:	carolina (Green Sedge)
Common Name:	Green Sedge or Rock Worm
Larval Case:	None
Larval Type:	(Free-living)
Larval Habitat:	Fast Water (Riffles)
Larval Activity:	March 7 through May 14
Pupal Activity:	May 14 through July 14
Emergence:	May 14 through July 14
Hook:	Larvae: #10 - #16 Pupae: #12 - #16 Adult: #12 - #16
Suggested Imitations:	Larvae: Rhyacophila Larva,Glass Bead Caddis Larva Pupae: Deep Sparkle Pupa, Grouse and Flash Adult: Green Diving Caddis, Henryville Special

There are more than 100 known species in North America. The adult can be some 16mm (3/4”) in length, with wings mottled with light and dark areas of gray and brown. The body is olive green with various shades of brown legs. R. arolina is a fast water insect. All activities of the larvae, pupae, and the adults begin and end in broken currents, so the Maine Angler should concentrate their activities in these areas.

Larvae Stage

The larvae of most of the species in the genus are restricted to the riffles and rapids in the cooler streams. This species has no gills and relies on its skin to absorb the oxygen from the cool fast flowing water. This is why they will only be found in environments that provide a steady, rapid flow of cool highly oxygenated water. The R. arolina larvae are one of the most primitive families of Caddisfly. The larvae are quite unique in that they are the only ones in the order that do not build a case or retreat sometime during their larval stage. These larvae (Free-living) crawl freely over, under, and around the substrate. These are the predators of the caddis family. They like the before mentioned B. numerosus, will tether themselves to rocks using a light brownish strand of silk. Should they be washed into the fast currents, they will undulate out on the ends of their safety lines of silk until they can once again secure themselves to another object.

Their instinctive habits of moving about the bottoms of fast water environments and the added habit of tethering themselves to the substrate, makes them a good subject to imitate by using larval patterns anytime. But the drifting in currents is done mainly during low light conditions; dawn and dusk. The color of the tippet should not be white as with B. numerosus but light brown and done with a felt marker.

Pupae Stage

The pupae usually emerge from the same swift areas where they played as larvae. They are surprisingly fast, strong swimmers that will rise after drifting along the bottom for only a few feet. This species will break through the surface film rather quickly. Once on the surface, they will skitter across the water to the banking. The fish will be just downstream below the fast water, waiting patiently for nature’s offerings.

Adult Stage

Most often the emergence of egg-laying females begins suddenly but can last into the early summer. This species has the female actually dives below surface to attach a string of eggs to any object on the bottom.

Tactics

*Just a note of importance* after emergence, not all caddisflies act the same. Some species are referred to as Running Pupa, because they will actually run or scamper across the surface of the water on top on the meniscus. These are imitated by soft-hackled flies such as, the AuSable Caddis or Cinnamon Caddis. These patterns are cast quarter down-and-across to a point only 15 to 20 feet with a drag-free drift.

Others, referred to as Skittering Pupa, will be partially through the meniscus and in order to negotiate across the surface, they have to wiggle from side to side very rapidly (Skittering) in order to move towards the banking. This activity is imitated by using a Dry Hackled fly such as a Vermont Caddis or Hare’s Ear Caddis. These patterns are cast to the same spot but the retrieve is done by wiggling your rod tip to imitate the skittering insect.

The most important thing to remember is in both cases, the key tactic is to keep your line, leader and most of your tippet off the water. Just as the fly lands on the waters surface, lift both your rod hand and line hand together to elevate the line, leader and some tippet off the water. This allows the fish an opportunity to only see the struggling insect come into view.

Maine’s #7 Caddis Spotted Sedge

Family:	Hydropsyche
Genus:	Ceratopsyche (Spotted Sedges)
Species:	morosa (Spotted Sedge)
Common Name:	Spotted Sedge, Cinnamon Sedge, or Olive Sedge
Larval Case:	Net Spinning with several nets and nearby shelter of silk bound pebbles, sand, and decaying organic particles.
Larval Type:	Fixed Net
Larval Habitat:	Medium to Fast Cool Currents of Riffles
Larval Activity:	February 14 through April 14
Pupal Activity:	April 14 through September 14
Emergence:	April 14 with peaks from May 7 through June 21 then sporadic until September 14 All activity is during the twilight hours.
Hook:	Larval: #10 Pupal: #12 Adult: #12
Suggested Imitations:	Larval: Net Spinning Caddis (Olive) Pupal: Deep Sparkle Pupa Adult: X Caddis Egg-Laying: Diving Caddi

General Information

This is the one important caddisflies for the Maine angler. The two main reasons are that this insect is the most common genus of net-spinners and it is the largest within the Hydropsyche family.

The caddis season begins in early May with the emergent activity after midday and the egg-laying activities at or after dusk.

Larval Stage

These dark olive colored larvae with black heads will build several medium mesh catch nets which are strung across cracks and crevices of rocks. These nets are supported by both debris and silken guide wires. The nets can be either free-standing or suspended across crevices in single stones or across the spaces between stones. The insect will then build a fixed retreat of sand, small pebbles, and pieces of decaying organic matter, all held together with spun silk. The morosa larvae will either graze along the rock or collect food particles from the capture nets. The current brings their microscopic prey (plankton) and other food particles into these various nets.

Many larvae of Hydropsyche and Ceratopsyche secrete a white line of silk, anchored to a rock on one end. They use it to rappel between rocks in the current, just as spiders or inchworms may use their silk to move around a tree. Gary LaFontaine popularized the trick of whitening the last foot and a half of one's leader to imitate this anchor line, noting that it improved his success and made the larvae "almost as worthwhile as the pupae and adults."

Pupal Stage

Before emerging, Hydropsychidae pupae will drift along the bottom or just under the surface for an unusually long time. They then take a unusualy long time struggling out through the surface film. Both of these characteristics make them more ideal for the Maine angler.

Adult Stage

These adults will always emerge on the surface of the water

Egg-Laying Stage

Gary LaFontaine writes in Caddisflies that Hydropsychidae females dive to lay their eggs on the river bottom. When they're done depositing their eggs, these insects do not swim to the surface quickly. Instead, they dead-drift for long distances before floating to just beneath the surface. This makes them exceptionally vulnerable to feeding trout.

Swisher and Richards in Selective Trout say that some species oviposit by flying low over the surface and dipping their abdomens slightly into the water repeatedly lay eggs. Most anglers of note believe Swisher and Richards about the variation, and to assume that the behavior LaFontaine described is by far the more common of the two. Hydropsychidae Fly Fishing Tips

During the non emergence and egg-laying activities, try Gary LaFontaine’s little trick of using a waterproof white marker and paint the first several inches of your tippet above the fly. Use a strike indicator to keep the offering just above the bottom.

Because of the later emergence, the newly emerged adults tend to get off the water rather quickly. So, a better fishing strategy would be to start out with the pupal patterns first and then switch over to the egg-laying patterns after sunset.

Maine’s #8 Caddisfly The Dark Blue Sedge

Family:	Odontoceridae (Blue Sedges)
Genus:	Psilotreta (Dark Blue Sedges)
Species:	labida (Dark Blue Sedge)
Common Name:	Dark Blue Sedge
Larval Case:	Round Tube made of Sand Grains
Larval Type:	Burrowing Round Tube Casemaker
Larval Habitat:	Fast Water
Larval Activity:	March 7 through May 28 and again September 7 through October 28roaming the substrate for decayed organic matter.
Pupal Activity:	June 7 through July 14
Emergence:	June 7 through July 14
Hook:	Larvae #10 Pupae #14 Adult #14
Suggested Imitations:	Larvae: Sparkle Yarn Caddis, Fur Peeping Caddis Pupae: Crow’s Nest Soft-hackle, Emergent Sparkle Pupa, and Deep Sparkle Pupa Adult: Solomon Caddis, Dancing Caddis, and Black Deer Hair Caddis

General Information

Now, it is a well known fact that most fish consume 80% of their food, below surface. What is not generally known is that 60% of that same food source is the caddisfly. For many, many years, fly fishing was all about the mayfly. This was because the mayfly was easily seen on the waters surface during all of the insect’s life cycles; dead drifting, emerging, egg laying and lying spent. Anglers would observe that fish were rising to the surface to feed on mayflies. Author after author and angler after angler would write or speak on the subject and the whole fly fishing community revolved around the mayfly.

It wasn’t until resent history that the fly fishing community heads were turned in another direction. Well known and greatly respected anglers and authors such as Preston Jennings, Leonard Wright, Art Flick, Gary LaFontaine, Carl Richards and more recently Thomas Ames Jr. have greatly advanced the art of the fly to the point where the caddis is added to the bow in order to allow the angler more consistent success when on the water.

These aquatic insects can and frequently do emerge in great numbers. This large mass emergence is called a superhatch.

These are among the largest of the caddis family and have a multiple year life cycle. Like the stones these tasty morsels are abundant to feeding fish just about year round. Of all these summer hatches, the mayfly may well be more spectacular, but both the caddis and stones have a much more enduring quality. This is primarily due to the fact that they are available to the fish for a much longer period of time. Remember that these aquatics are very important prior to and after the major mayfly hatch activities.

The renowned and late Gary LaFontaine of Montana and Carl Richards in Michigan among others have for many years depended on these strong case makers for their early and late season successes.

Larval Stage

These cased larvae roam unattached along the bottoms of both streams and rivers in search of detritus and other foods. Some are so plentiful that fish will quickly fill their stomachs, especially during the periods when few other food forms are prominent in the water column.

Psilotreta labida (Dark Blue Sedge) is one of the few if not the only caddis to have a two-year life cycle. This explains why you can find them at nearly mature sizes in the late fall. The omnivorous larvae burrow into the substrate and then reappear in the spring, to hatch during the late spring or the earliest part of summer. In the mean time its cousins of the following year’s generation remain hidden in the sandy or gravelly substrate.

The Dark Blue Sedge has several unique characteristics. One relates to the hardness of its case, which is a slightly curved cylinder made of sand or micro sized pebbles, secured together with the adhesive spun by all case caddises and called “silk.” Most case makers also line the interior with this same material, however, the Psilotreta cases are unlined. The genus includes several species, but only two are of importance to the caddis angler (labida and frontalis). The head and legs are dark brown, however, when removed from their cases, the larva of either species is a bright, fluorescent green body covered with micro gill clusters.

These mature foragers bravely roam the surfaces of stream boulders and rocks, but their grip is tenuous at best. These caddis, fare poorly in medium to strong currents, thereby swiftly adding themselves to the biological drift. For this reason, both the autumn and spring rains will create optimal angling opportunities with cased caddis imitations.

Once a part of the biological drift, the larvae will drift helplessly, and the best presentation is a dead drift at a consistent maximum depth. This technique requires the use of a strike indicator which will accomplish two very important tasks, one to observe the take and the other to assist you in mending the line without disturbing the imitation holding leader and tippet configuration.

The case building caddis will continue to go through instars and when the insect has outgrown its case, it will abandon its case and build a new one. Once the over-sized case is complete, the caddis larvae will move in and resume normal activities.

This process will continue several times during its growth from an immature larva to the last mutation into a mature pupa. This aquatic caddis will form clusters on the down-stream under-sides of stream bottom rocks. They will seal their cases and begin their last aquatic metamorphosis.

Pupal Stage

In the weeks before emergence, mid May through mid June, these caddis larvae will as if on cue, will collectively commence a mass migration and cluster together on the downstream sides of rocks, boulders and other substrate structures just before pupation. These caddis clusters can be very dense, with cases layered on top of one another making in some cases several layers of these cases. These caddises are also site specific, with one section of the stream supporting very heavy populations and other nearby sections being completely free of any such aquatic insects.

Once the community is established each larvae will seal its case for the mutation to the pupal stage. While inside, the larva will transform from a bright green wormlike larvae to a dark grayish/green pupa with gray wing cases and long antennae.

Adult Stage

When nature calls the mature pupa will break the sealed case (a chrysalis), crawl out, and begin two attempts to reach the waters surface to complete the life cycle as an air-breathing adult. As it attempts to reach the surface the emerging pupa will begin to drift downstream. In no time at all they will ascend towards the air-breathing world above by paddling with their oar-like middle pair of legs. Once at the waters surface, they will split the transparent membrane, unfold their wings and fly off very quickly.

Some species will use aquatic vegetation to emerge rather than open water where they are easy prey for the trout. Unlike many other caddis hatches, the Psilotreta caddis hatch is spread out throughout low light conditions of dusk to darkness. The following is the usual sequence of a Dark Blue Sedge 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 Pupal Sheath. When sufficient buoyancy is achieved, the Caddis begins its ascent to the underside of the meniscus (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 meniscus to the waters surface.

Remember that these insects have two characteristics that are unique. One, they are in unusually heavy concentrated populations and two; the emergence is likewise very heavily concentrated. This activity will not go unnoticed by area fish. A steady stream of ascending pupa will cause the fish to position themselves down-stream to intercept them.

During your frequent stream analysis activities, by picking up several rocks and identifying the insect activities, you can often predict future caddis hatches that will greatly add to your future angling success.

Oviposting Stage

Mature females will return to the area the next day at the same time to deposit dark green egg masses onto the waters surface. The female will deposit her eggs by repeatedly skimming the surface to dislodge the egg mass from her lower abdomen. First: In rivers and streams, I fish the Emergent Sparkle Pupa submerged as deep as possible. As the fly drifts towards a suspected trout lie, I employ three tactics:

1. I will cast the Black Elk Hare Caddis up and across and as the drag free imitation come towards me I will twitch the fly to give the appearance of the naturals fluttering movements.
2. With a weighted Emergent Sparkle Pupa, I will cast again up and across with a sink tip and allow the fly to drift downstream and when the line has played out, the fly will rise through the water column imitating the pupa rising to the surface.
3. I can also submerge the offering and inch the fly along against the current during the retrieve to create a swimming action to the fly and will often induce a strike.

Maine’s #9 Zebra Caddis

Family:	Hydropsychidae (Spotted Sedges)
Genus:	Macrostemum (Glossy Winged Sedges)
Species:	zebratum (Zebra Caddis)
Common Name:	Zebra Caddis or Alderfly
Larval Case:	Scoop Nets with nearby shelters
Larval Type:	Filtered food Particle Collector
Larval Habitat:	Medium to Fast Currents
Larval Activity:	March 7 through May 28
Pupal Activity:	June 14 through August 14
Emergence:	June 14 through August 14
Hook:	Larval: #10 Pupal: #10 Adult: #10
Suggested Imitations:	Larval: Net Spinning Caddis (Bright Green) Pupal: Deep Sparkle Pupa Adult: Dark Elk Hair Caddis Egg-Laying: Diving Caddis or Prince Nymph

General Information

This is the most important caddisfly family for Maine fly anglers. They are extremely abundant in trout streams and their life cycle specifics make them very vulnerable to the trout. Hydropsyche is the best-known genus, but it is probably now the least important of the big three: Hydropsyche, Cheumatopsyche, and Ceratopsyche. All of the most important Hydropsyche species were recently reclassified into Ceratopsyche.

Two species of note from the other genera are Potamyia flava, a relatively unimportant Southern species, and Macrostemum zebratum, the important species commonly known as the "Zebra Caddis."

These very important caddisflies get their nickname “Alderfly” from the fact that the insect prefers to roost under the leaves of Alder trees that run along the edges of Maine’s rivers and streams.

M. zebratum is a very large larva with an overall length of 1 inch. The color is usually very bright green with a much darker head. Their nets are the finest mesh of any other species in the Hydropsychid family. These nets and shelters can be found in clusters on the undersides substrate rocks of the medium to fast currents of riffles.

Larval Stage

Hydropsychidae is the main family of net-spinning caddisflies. The Macrostemum zebratum larvae build a unique scoop shaped net with the wide end facing upstream. The water is directed into the large opening and food particles and plankton are filtered at the narrow downstream exit. The larvae will then build a separate shelter nearby and frequently collect its’ meals from these collecting nets. The current brings their microscopic prey and plankton into these traps. One larva may build and tend to more than one net.

Pupal Stage

By June 7, the M. zebratum larvae abandon their shelters to relocate to the lower edges of rocks and boulders to construct more rigid structures to begin their pupal metamorphosis. After three weeks, the new metamorphosed pupae will cut themselves free of the pupal cocoon and climb to the top of these rocks and boulders. From these aquatic perches, they will attempt to swim or float towards the surface. Before emerging, M. zebratum pupae drift along with the biological drift for an unusually long time. When they finally swim or float to the underside of the surface film, they have a very difficult time struggling out through the meniscus. Both of these pupal characteristics make them more vulnerable to the fish and simple to imitate by the angler.

Adult Stage

The name Zebra Caddis comes from the distinct dark purplish/gray pattern on the tan background of the insects wings. The Alder Fly emerges in the prime time of Dry Fly season. These warm late afternoons and evenings of mid June through mid August will keep any fly angler from the house and office.

Like most other caddis species, the adult insects are only available to feeding fish during the oviposting activities.

Oviposting Stage

This diving caddis will hover high above the water’s surface, then dive straight down and slam against the water in order to penetrate the meniscus. A goodly number don’t make through and resort to fluttering around on the surface to release the eggs. Others will simply drown in the attempt. Most will make it the bottom, deposit the eggs and then simply become part of the biological drift. All of this activity does not go unnoticed by eager fish and excited anglers.

As mentioned, these Alderflies will deposit their eggs on the bottom of the streambed in early summer, and by October and November the larvae are well grown. This fact will make them important to the early and late winter angler. This opportunity is twofold because their habitat seldom freezes over due to the fast water current and there is little else available to feeding fish. Gary LaFontaine writes in Caddisflies that M. zebratum females dive to lay their eggs on the river bottom. Once the eggs have been successfully deposited on the bottom, these diving caddis simply dead-drift downstream until captured by feeding fish. This makes them exceptionally vulnerable to trout and well worth imitating by the angler.

Hydropsychidae Fly Fishing Tips

Because they are so common, imitations of this family perform very well as searching patterns. Searching pattern: Any artificial fly pattern used when trout that aren't feeding selectively on anything in particular. A searching pattern may be an attractor or an imitation of something specific that the fish might favor even though it's not currently hatching.. Most of the fashionable "Czech Nymphs" imitate Hydropsychidae larvae, as do Cinnamon Caddis dry flies, which perform very well.

In the winter, remember that fish will stay on the bottom where the water is warmest and the food is most prevalent. That also dictates that the only real productive technique is to dead-drift patterns just above the substrate. The best set up is to use a tandem rig with a Golden Stone Nymph at the point and a Caddis Larva as the dropper.

In the summer you can cast upstream into the riffles and bounce the offering downstream. Once downstream, use Gary LaFontaine’s trick down through the runs. Another common behavior of trout is to position themselves under the over hanging alders that grow abundantly along the stream’s edge. Take advantage of this shaded area by casting into these shaded holding areas with a #10 Elk Hair Caddis (Dark Brown).

During the evening oviposting, a dead drifted spent-winged pattern sent upstream with an overpowered cast will imitate the Diving Caddis well. Allow a nice drag-free drift and at the end pull the fly under and retrieve with short quick strips. At the last portion of the retrieve, release the line and this will cause the fly to rise towards the surface imitating a spent female.

Maine’s #10 Brown Autumn Sedge

Family:	Limnephilidae (Northern Caddisflies)
Genus:	Pycnopsyche (Great Autumn Brown Sedges)
Species:	guttifer (Great Autumn Brown Sedge)
Common Name:	Autumn Brown Sedge, Giant Red Sedge
Larval Case:	Sticks, leaves, gravel, or whatever is available
Larval Type:	Leaf Shredder
Larval Habitat:	Medium to Slow Runs and Flats including Lakes and Ponds
Larval Activity:	July 7 through August 14
Pupal Activity:	August 14 through October 28 - 7 to 9pm
Emergence:	August 14 through October 28 - 7 to 9pm
Hook:	Larval: #6 Pupal: #10 Adult: #10
Suggested Imitations:	Larval: Fir Peeping Caddis or weighted Strawman Pupal: Grouse and Flash (orange), and Golden Demon Adult: Dark Elk Hair Caddis Egg-Laying: Diving Caddis or Prince Nymph

General Information

There is little debate, that the genus Pycnopsyche is the most significant of the Limnephilidae family. Even when you realize that its emergence and subsequent oviposting is, for the most part, out of reach for fish. The very high degree of importance is based on the insect’s sheer numbers and longer period of availability to feeding fish.

The P. guttifer’s life cycle is completely synchronized with its’ primary food source, which is the decaying organic matter made up of fallen leaves. The eggs of this species hatch in the fall, just as the deciduous trees are shedding their foliage; the larvae will roam the streams bottom feeding and growing throughout the winter and by late spring, they are fully mature. They will continue to graze until early summer when the high water flushes away the accumulations of decaying leaves; the larvae will then enter diapause. Diapause: A state of complete dormancy deeper even than hibernation. While in diapause, an organism does not move around, eat, or even grow. Some caddisfly larvae enter diapause for a few weeks to several months. This is a period where they seal off their cases, once their food source is diminished; they remain in this inactive state until they pupate in late summer; emergence, mating, and egg laying occurs in early fall, producing a new generation in time for the next input of leaves.

Larval Stage

These larvae construct one inch movable cased shelters of sticks, leaves, sand gravel, decaying organic debris or almost anything else available. These habitats are about an inch long and lined with fine silk. P. guttifer is a Leaf-shredder that also will consume algae and other decaying organic matter.

The P. guttifer eggs hatch just prior to the first leaves falling onto the cooling waters in the fall and sink to the bottom of the water column. The larvae will consume leaves, algae, and other decaying organic matter. These aquatic insects will continue to grow throughout the late fall and subsequent winter.

Pupal Stage

When the warm temperatures of spring turn to the hotter temperatures of summer, these insects will search out deeper and cooler locations to seal off their cases and enter a period of stasis. Once the cooler temperatures of early fall arrive, the insect will complete its’ metamorphosis into the Pupal Stage. These pupae are a very bright reddish/orange and this color is an attractor for feeding fish seeking to put on some needed weight before the arrival of winter. Even though this creature will emerge out of water and often times, under the cloak of darkness, don’t pass up an opportunity to mimic their travels from the streams depths to the shoreline.

To mimic the biological drift of a drowned adult, by fishing the water near the shoreline with a Deep Sparkle Pupa.

Adult Stage

These newly emerged adults will ovipost the next morning before sun rise and under very low light conditions. Use orange or reddish/orange imitations and mimic a diving caddis or an offering that crawls from shore to deposit eggs on the bottom.

Oviposting Stage

Many Limnephilidae females lay their eggs on dry land near the water, waiting for them to be washed in by rain or taken by floods. Others dive or crawl to the bottom to lay eggs.

Fly Fishing Techniques

Cast a weighted Strawman Nymph into the center of the stream and very slowly retrieve the offering toward the edge of the stream. This will mimic the pupae crawling to the shoreline to emerge on streamside structures.

Use orange or reddish/orange imitations and mimic a diving caddis or an offering that crawls from shore to deposit eggs on the bottom.

Even though this creature will emerge out of water and often times, under the cloak of darkness, don’t pass up an opportunity to mimic their travels from the streams depths to the shoreline.

To mimic the biological drift of a drowned adult, by fishing the water near the shoreline with a Deep Sparkle Pupa.

Maine’s #12 The Snow Sedge

Family:	Limnephilidae (Northern Caddisflies)
Genus:	Psycholypha (Autumn Brown Sedges)
Species:	sub-borealis (Snow Sedge)
Common Name:	Snow Sedge
Larval Case:	Sticks, leaves, gravel, or whatever is available
Larval Type:	Leaf Shredder
Larval Habitat:	Medium to Slow Runs and Flats including Lakes and Ponds
Larval Activity:	January 7 through March 14
Pupal Activity:	January 21 through March 21 - 11am to 2pm
Emergence:	Sporadic January through March - 12 to 3pm

General Information

If you like winter fly fishing, well, this is the gift that you have been waiting for. These caddisflies are very important to the winter angler because they are the only hatching insect around except for the ever present hatching winter midges. Gary LaFontaine relays an interesting correspondence about this genus in Caddisflies: Dr. George Roemhild explained to me how he finds these winter caddisflies in February and March: "They crawl up on the snowbanks, but when the sun hits their dark wings they melt down out of sight. That's how I collect them, by walking along looking for holes in the snow."

Larva & Pupa Biology

Diet: Algae, decaying leaves and wood, decaying animals Shelter Type: Tube with silk on the inside and plant matter, twigs, sand, or gravel on the outside.

The larvae are the most important stage of Psychoglypha. They are especially prone to being dislodged and become caught up in the biological drift. Biological drift:

Both nymphs and larvae of many aquatic insects will often loose their footing and thus released into the waters currents. These aquatic insects will drift downstream for a goodly distance until noticed by waiting fish. This biological drifting activity increases their vulnerability to trout just like the emergence, but it is invisible to the angler above the surface. On bright winter days when the trout move into the shallows to sun themselves, these caddisflies may pick the same destination to emerge and the trout will feed.

Hatching Behavior

These Snow Sedges will emerge during the warmest part of the day. Limnephilidae pupae may emerge on the surface or by crawling out onto the shore-lined rocks, ice, snowbanks, depending on species and sometimes varying within a single species. Once off the water and safely on the snow bankings, they will heat up in the afternoon sun only to heat up enough to sink into the snow-cover.

Egg-Laying Behavior

Many Limnephilidae females lay their eggs on the shoreline, waiting for them to be washed into the water by rain, blowing snow, or transported to the water by wnter rains or spring floods. Others dive to the bottom to lay eggs.

Hatch Charts

You are about to learn a new way of reading Hatch Charts. Every Hatch Chart that I’ve ever looked at gives you a suggested date of an Aquatic Insects Emergence. The hatch date is when the angler should see a particular aquatic insect emerge from its aquatic environment to the new air breathing world.

Now the bad news is that this information is only one forth of the information that leads to consistently successful fishing trips. Remember that all aquatic insects have a life cycle that is composed of life as a Larvae or Nymph and then progressing to a second life cycle that involves being an Emerger or Pupae. After these two periods then we have the Hatch Chart’s suggested dates of emergence.

Let’s look at an example:

The very popular Caddisfly, the Gold-Speckled Wing Caddis. The various charts out there will suggest that these small aquatic insects are multibrooded. This means that there is more than one hatch of these insects during the fishing season. They first appear in the middle of winter during January and February and then again during the middle of summer in both July and August. The chart only suggests the date of emergence. Most anglers will anticipate seeing fish rising to these emerging insects and prepare themselves in the use of their favorite dry flies; (#18 + #20 Delta-Winged Caddis. The problem may be that there are no fish rising and no sign of these insects on the waters surface. These imitations will do you no good if there are no fish rising to these naturals. Now, what do you do?

Now, let’s use this same chart in a different way. On the surface, the chart only is concerned with the emerged adult stage of the Gold Speckled-Winged Caddisfly. This represents only 25% of the insects’ availability to the feeding fish. There are, as well you know, three other stages of this insects’ life cycle that make it appealing to feeding fish.

25%

The Gold Speckled-Winged Caddis female adult lays her eggs in late February and the second generation lays their eggs in late August. After a short period, these eggs will hatch and the larvae will start building their nets. In a few short weeks the larvae are roaming around tending nets or relocating to better food collecting areas. This activity makes them available to feeding fish, as they are swept off the rocks into the biological drift or captured by fish as they roam the rocks. These activities make them a valuable food source for both mid-winter and mid-summer fishing. This importance is two fold; one is as a result of the larvae’s availability since most of the Mayfly activity has come and gone, during the summer and in the winter, this insect larvae is valued because of the lack of most other food choices.

50%

In late February and again late August, these caddis larvae will abandon their fast water shelters and migrate to the downstream sides and lower edges of rocks and boulders in order to construct a more rigid case to begin their metamorphosis to the pupal stage of life. This activity, once again, exposes them to feeding fish by migrating along the rocks to build their pupal cocoons or get caught up in the biological drift, during their attempt to relocate.

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As if on cue, come February and again in August, around noon, everyone in the neighborhood heads for the surface. This is a golden opportunity for the angler because these pupae will either swim or float to the top of the water column. The good news is that these Caddisflies will swim or float for a long distance before completing their journey to the top of the water column. The next problem for the insect and opportunity for the angler is that they have a great difficulty in breaking through the meniscus. The pupae will surface well below the fast water and start their bizarre run for the edge of the stream. They have been described as running crazily, fluttering, skidding or just plain taking a bead and heading for the shore. These insect don’t bother to shed their pupal shucks prior to making the trip but accomplish the feat within their skins. Once they reach the safety of the shoreline, they then shed their pupal shucks and emerge as adults. This weird event will take place around 8a.m. in the summer emergence and about 9a.m. during the winter emergence. Both emergences will peak at midmorning and end before noon. Here’s another very strange occurrence, this insect emerges with wings during the summer hatch and without fully developed wings during the winter emergence.

All of this commotion does not go unnoticed by either area fish or the angler.

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During the low light conditions of pre-dusk and during the fist few hours of darkness, the females will emerge from the streamside vegetation to begin the egg-laying. These species of caddis will hover high above the water’s surface, then dive straight down and slam against the water in order to penetrate the meniscus. Then this insect will swim to the bottom of the water column to deposit the eggs on the bottom. A goodly number don’t make the entry attempt and resort to fluttering around on the surface to release the eggs. Others will simply drown in the attempt. Most will make it the bottom, deposit the eggs and then simply become part of the biological drift. All of this activity does not go unnoticed by eager fish and excited anglers. Now, you have a choice, you can consult a chart that is only concerned with one option, the actual emergence or you can consult a chart that suggests various dates for many other options that will allow you to imitate Larval Activities, Pupal Activities, and the Egg Laying Activities of your favorite aquatic insect.

Here’s what the chart should tell you:

Tiny Black Gold-Speckled Winged Caddis (Winter Sedge)

Larval Activity: 1st December 21 through February 14, 2nd July 1 through August 14

Pupal Activity: 1st January 14 through February 21 , 2nd July 7 through August 21

Emergence: 1st January and February 2nd July and August

Oviposting: 1st mid-February 2nd mid-August