Cased Caddis
Many caddis species build protective cases of sand grains, sticks, or leaves, and trout eat the larva case and all — cracking the case and extracting the larva. A good cased caddis imitation fished dead-drift along the bottom can produce exceptional results throughout the year when other patterns fail. The beaded, rough body suggests the gritty texture of a natural stone or sand case.
- Type
- nymph (Caddis)
- Hook sizes
- #8–14
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall, winter
Materials
- hook: Nymph hook #8–14
- thread: Black 6/0
- bead: Large dark tungsten bead (simulates stone case opening)
- weight: Lead wire
- body: Dark brown dubbing, rough textured
- head: Green or olive dubbing ball (larva head)
Tying steps
- Mount a size 8–14 nymph hook; slide on a large dark tungsten bead as the head.
- Wrap heavy lead wire on the front third; start black thread.
- Dub a fat, rough body of dark brown dubbing mixed with small sand or pebble dust for texture.
- Build the body from the bend to behind the bead, making it slightly tapered.
- Wind rough hare's ear or similar dubbing over the body to create a gritty texture.
- Tie in a small dark olive or green dubbing ball at the bend as the larva's head.
- Tie in 2–3 small partridge fibers at the larva head as legs.
- Build a neat thread head; whip finish and cement.