Midge / EmergersFlashback Caddis
Dennis Collier's Flashback Caddis targets a caddis caught struggling near the surface during emergence or egg-laying. A small olive Ultrawire abdomen is topped with a black Krystal Flash shellback, and olive Crinkly Z-Lon splays out over a thread thorax as legs.
Spring, Summer, Fall
Intermediate
Trout
Feb 2026
Overview
Dennis Collier built the Flashback Caddis around materials that hold up to repeated fish contact, wrapping small olive Ultrawire for the abdomen instead of dubbing and topping it with a black Krystal Flash shellback for movement in the current. Crinkly olive Z-Lon fans out as legs over a thorax of nothing more than the tying thread, keeping the front end slim. It's a solid choice through spring, summer, and fall whenever caddis are transitioning near the surface and trout are keyed on the struggle.
Where to Buy This Fly
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Materials
- Hook:
- Tiemco 2499SP #14
- Thread:
- Benecchi 12/0, black
- Abdomen:
- Ultrawire, olive small
- Shellback:
- Krystal Flash, black
- Thorax cover/legs:
- Crinkly Z-Lon, olive
- Thorax:
- Tying thread
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Caddis pupae ascend rapidly from the bottom toward the surface film, transitioning through mid-column zones before breaking through to emerge as adults. Trout intercept these ascending insects at various depths, focusing feeding efforts where pupae pause suspended just beneath the film before final emergence.
Where Trout Eat It: Trout intercept caddis pupae ascending rapidly from bottom, focusing on emergers in top 12 inches during surface transition.
How to Fish It: Control depth with greased leader to 6 inches of fly, maintaining subtle tension while dead drifting through upper column.
Best Water: Fish caddis zones in riffle tail-outs, pocket water edges where pupae pause before breaking film, and current compression areas.
Strike Type: Watch for quiet dimples just beneath the film or feel gentle resistance as fish inhale the suspended emerger. The indicator may barely twitch or slide slightly during the take.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Use a 12-15 foot leader with 6X-7X tippet. Fish alone or as a dropper beneath a small dry fly.
Seasonal Timing: Most effective during peak feeding periods at dawn and dusk. Water temperatures between 45-65°F typically produce best results.
Pro Tips: The flashback triggers strikes in off-color water when natural caddis patterns fail. Grease leader to within 6 inches of fly for better depth control and strike detection.
Entomology
Caddisflies transition through various life stages near the surface, often struggling in the surface film as they emerge or oviposit, creating vulnerable opportunities for feeding fish. Trout key in on these insects during transitional moments because the struggling movements signal an easy meal that cannot escape quickly.
- Order
- Trichoptera
- Common Name
- Caddisfly
- Organism Type
- insect
- Life Stage
- general
