Dry FliesRough Water Caddis

The Rough Water Caddis is a high-profile dry fly designed to stay afloat in choppy water. It imitates a caddis fly struggling on the water's surface, an easy meal for trout.

Season
Spring, Summer
Difficulty
Advanced
Target Species
Trout
Rough Water Caddis - Image source: Tightline Productions
Image source: Tightline Productions

Overview

Built for turbulent surface conditions, this dry fly typically uses a high-floating foam or dubbed body, elk hair wing, and dense hackle for floatation and visibility. The pattern rides high and resists getting drowned in riffles or pocket water.

Pattern Characteristics

Advanced Difficulty
Trout
Moving Water
Spring
Summer
Imitates: Caddis
Variant of: Royal Wulff

Materials

Hook: 1X-long dry-fly hook (here a Dai-Riki 300), size 14
Thread: 6/0, olive
Tails/Head: Natural deer body hair, cleaned and stacked
Hackle: Grizzly rooster saddle hackle, trimmed on the bottom
Body: Super Fine dubbing, tan
Note: Change the colors to match the naturals

Fishing Tips

Season

Spring, Summer

Presentation

Cast upstream and let the fly drift naturally.

When to Use

When trout are feeding on caddis flies, especially in rough water conditions.

Water Type

Moving Water

Rigging Suggestions

Use a 9-foot leader with a 5X tippet.

Visibility & Floatation

The fly floats high on the water and is highly visible due to the white poly yarn underwing.