Harrop’s Caddis System
The technique for fishing the CDC Diving Caddis is in some ways similar to fishing a rising pupa, but it requires a winged pattern heavy enough to penetrate quickly into the depths. A strike can occur during the downward plunge, but it is much more likely when the fly is lifted briskly back toward the surface with the rod tip. This method is best executed with an upstream cast, and the take can be violent when it happens during the lift.
Larva Imitations
Many years elapsed before caddis larvae found their way into my personal fishing picture. To me, it seemed illogical that this sedate, bottom-dwelling stage could be important.
I credit George Anderson, the noted Montana outfitter, with showing me the error of my ways when we were fishing the Madison together back in the 1970s. It was mid-afternoon on a hot August day and fishing was slow. Switching from drys to a weighted imitation of a caddis larva, George caught trout after trout while I went fishless.
George’s simple yet deadly pattern was inspired by a common tendency of caddis larvae to build a protective case. His technique was to bounce the fly along the bottom at a speed equal to the current, with no rod-imparted action during the drift. It was a lesson well learned, and one that I fall back on frequently—using the Cased Caddis Larva—throughout the year. Although less often than its cased counterpart, I also fish an imitation of the wormlike, free-living larva—the Caddis Larva—the same way.
My evolution as a fly fisher and tier is revealed in a systemized approach to dealing with a single type of insect. The organized rows of specific imitations that address the varying forms of caddis are a far cry from the random assortment of mixed patterns that I carried as a youth with far more enthusiasm than reasoned effort.
In the seasons when they are appropriate, I carry two boxes of caddis patterns, each containing at least 100 flies. This is a good indication of how much opportunity caddis provide on the waters I fish.
Since the beginning, I have been compelled to tie better imitations. As my understanding has expanded, so has the effectiveness of my flies. No pattern in my vest is without a predecessor and most have many. And although some might view this attitude as excessive, there is comfort in a fully functional caddis system structured to address the specific stages of the insect, with attention also given to interim or emerging phases.
For the waters of the Rocky Mountain West, shades of cream, tan, brown, green, and black cover the body colors of most hatches. I rely primarily on tan, brown, gray, or black CDC for the wings on patterns that imitate adults. Hooks in size 12 through 20 cover the essential range of natural insects, with the exception of the giant October caddis, size 8.
Time on the water is precious, and opportunity is often fleeting. Technology has responded to the organizational requirements of thinking anglers who place value on the ability to gain quick access to the right fly in any given situation. The best fly boxes allow the patterns to be securely arranged in neat rows that allow each fly to be easily identified and removed for use. Most boxes float if accidentally dropped on the water, and some are even waterproof.
No rule in fly fishing requires anyone to adhere to another’s approach to the sport. But I do not believe it is possible to know too much about trout and their behavior. Food is the essential motivator for the activity that produces opportunity, and as anglers we can only be as successful as our understanding allows. In addition to correct presentation, catching fish is as simple as having the right fly at the right time. A good system of imitation goes a long way toward making that happen.
René Harrop owns and operates TroutHunter, a fly shop and guide service in Island Park, Idaho. He is the author of Trout Hunter (Pruett Publishing Co., 2004).
Copyright © 2012 Intermedia Outdoors
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