Overview
The Bird of Prey Caddis can be tied in a variety of colors to match local caddis species. The UV resin coated wingcase adds shine and durability, while the peacock herl thorax adds a touch of irresistible sparkle.
Related patterns
Behavior & presentation
- Natural Behavior
- Freed pupae swim actively toward the surface using rhythmic abdominal undulations, crossing horizontal distance while ascending and becoming highly visible during mass emergence events.
- Where Trout Eat It
- Fish target these swimmers throughout the water column, from mid-depth to just below the surface film where pupae prepare to emerge.
- How to Fish It
- Swing or lift on a tight line to imitate the ascending, swimming motion as pupae migrate upward during concentrated hatches.
- Best Water
- Most effective in current seams, pools, riffle edges, and tail-outs where emerging pupae concentrate during peak activity.
- Strike Type
- Aggressive grabs as fish intercept swimming pupae, often feeling like solid thumps on the swing or lift.
Fishing strategy
- Rigging Suggestions
- Use 5X-6X tippet on a 9-foot leader. Fish under a strike indicator 3-5 feet deep, or as the point fly in a two-fly nymph rig with a beadhead dropper.
- Seasonal Timing
- Most productive from April through October, with peak effectiveness during May-June and September when caddis pupae are most active. Water temperatures between 50-65°F trigger the best hatches.
- Pro Tips
- The UV resin wingcase provides subsurface flash that triggers strikes. In lake, use a slow hand-twist retrieve to mimic the pupa's swimming motion toward the surface.
Entomology
Caddis pupae cut free from their larval cases and swim actively toward the surface using rhythmic undulations of their abdomen, often crossing significant horizontal distance while ascending. This swimming behavior makes them highly visible and vulnerable as they move through the water column, particularly during mass emergence events. Fish target these pupae aggressively because the combination of size, active movement, and concentrated emergence timing creates irresistible feeding opportunities.
- Order
- Trichoptera
- Common name
- Caddisfly
- Organism
- insect
- Life stage
- pupa
Pattern details
- Stillwater
- Moving Water
- Pacific Northwest
- dead-drift
- indicator-nymph
- caddis-hatch
- swing
