Caddis Pupa

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Caddis overview/
types/ larva/adult/micro

Trichoptera

A few key caddis pupa:

1. "Giant Red Sedge"
   (Ephemera guttulata)

2. "Little Sepia Sedge"
   (Stenonema vicarium)

3. Medium Speckled Sedge"
   (Ephemerella subvaria)

4. "Great Western Caperer"
   (Stenonema canadense)

Although trout will eat "free-living" larva and the larva-filled caddis cases made by the "casebuilders", the cases and retreats in general are well adapted for camouflaging the larva and protecting them from predators.  In that it is generally difficult to imitate case-building larva with flies on a widespread basis, flyfishers attention is drawn to the more active and available caddis pupa stage of these insects.

It is for this reason, too, that bottom fishing with caddis larval patterns may not be as productive as bottom fishing with mayfly or stonefly larva/nymph imitations.

    Using just any nymph pattern when fish are taking pupal forms quite often does not produce.  Concentration of a single caddis pupa species often results in selectivity by fish and flies representing them must be an accurate imitation of the naturals.  Fish can examine subsurface foods readily, seeing them better than insects on the surface.  Therefore, fish generally and trout particularly, are more selective about caddis pupa as to their color, size and shape.

    When the development of the pupa is complete, the emerging caddis cuts through its cocoon.  The resultant insect is a lot like the adult in that the wings and abdomen are distinctly formed, and the antenna and legs lay along its side.  The fish feed eagerly on these plentiful and susceptible prey.

    The pupa "emerge" (i.e., hatch into the adult, winged form) in one of two ways: 

• some species emerge in open water in the tension found at the water's surface
  
• others creep or crawl out of the water and hatch on plants or rocks

    Regardless of their method, caddis pupa at this stage are often referred to as "emergers".  As this transformation takes place, they are readily available to the fish.  Those swimming directly to the surface and others drifting in the current before hatching are easily seen by fish.  The crawlers are also vulnerable during their migration to the shore.  Many fly patterns are available to imitate caddis at the point at which they change into the adult stage.