The Caddis Fly

This has to be one of my favorite patterns to fish.  I have used it in nearly all of the rivers here in Colorado as well as locations in Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, and Idaho.  I would consider this a staple for any fly fisherman because it's an extremely effective pattern that can mimic both adult caddis and stone flies.  In general, I like to vary the color on this pattern in a consistent way.  In early spring, colors should stay in the light yellow and orange range in order to mimic emerging stone flies in the area, but as late summer begins to approach, I move toward darker colors like auburn, brown, and even black.  I like to tie this one with a slightly thicker wing than you traditionally see as this will allow the fly to float on the surface effectively even when in rougher water. 

The Caddis Fly