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Tentwings

by Michael Heck

 

Caddisflies are often referred to as "Tentwings", and used by some fly fisherman when fishing caddis hatches.  By looking at any adult caddis from behind, you will see the wings lay over the body in the shape of a tent hence "tentwings".

 

Many of our beloved PA waters have great hatches of caddisflies.   Hatches like the Grannom, black caddis and the popular tan and gray sedges are all familiar and known in the fly fishing community.

 

Caddis hatches are not  as popular to fish when compared to mayfly hatches.  For most, mayfly hatches, techniques and patterns are far more easier to grasp than the techniques essential for fishing over caddis hatches.  Caddis hatch differently than mayflies.  Different patterns are needed and different techniques needed just for fishing caddis hatches.

 

Caddisflies do not ride the surface as mayflies do.  They jettison right through the surface and make for vegetation.  Rising trout quite common during mayfly hatches, are not always the case with caddis hatches.  Yes, you will see some surface activity, but many times these trout are feeding on drifting stillborn pupas and drowned adult caddis.  Now a hint:  Ever see trout leaping out of the water while caddis are present?  Well, the trout are chasing the emerging pupa and continue following them right out of the water.

 

Often times soft hackles, deep sparkle pupas and emergent sparkle pupas are used during caddis hatches.  These flies are started along the bottom and allowed to swing across the stream.  Conditions where trout are visible, you can pick out caddis feeding trout by their slashing feeding behavior.  I will usually stand upstream and swing a pupa in front of a feeding trout.  If you stumble on a few surfacing trout try Elk hair caddis, emergent pupas or CDC caddis. 

 

The best time for surface activity would be during egg-laying.  Rising trout can usually be found in good numbers during this time.  Elk or deer hair caddis, CDC caddis, diving caddis or Dette caddis are often used during egg-laying times.  By far the most famous would be the black caddis.  The females of this group fall to the water in incredible numbers.  To find out more about this hatch, you can get a back copy of the May/June 1999 American Angler where I wrote an article entitled "The Fly In Black".

 

Don't leave out the larvae stage for effective flies for trout.   Remember trout feed on caddis larva too.  Caddis larva can be fished by standard nymphing techniques.  Good patterns to have are brown cased caddis, green, olive and yellow caddis larva with or without bead heads.  Have caught many springtime steelhead on a #10 green caddis larva!  That's the quickie over-view on caddis.  Lets look at some streams.  

 

All patterns mentioned can be found on my fly list and available for mail order.     For local or traveling anglers, call me at 717-261-0070, or e-mail at trout@mris.com.  I can supply you with flies and guide services for all the area streams and trips to the Juniata.

 

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