Northwest Fishing Reports

Seeing that this is a key hatch on the Spokane river, which is finally dropping into shape, I am curious to know methods, techniques, strategies, tips, patterns, etc. that you guys employ when encountering caddisfly hatches on the Spokane (or anywhere else for that matter. Specifically when trout are feeding on emerging pupae in the film, as evidenced by "rolling" or "porpoising" type rises that are commonly seen on the Spokane in the summer months, especially in the last hour (and beyond) of light.

These periods of emergence can be exhilarating and frustrating in my experience, hence any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated.

Dave

DBK, fishing the caddis hatch can be some of the most difficult fishing for trout that can be found. There are a lot of caddis pupa patterns, and a fair number of emerger patterns, but, as you have no doubt discovered, it is not all that easy.

I have found that on the Spokane River, using a fly, a simple fly, made of pink clear beads, threaded on a shank, with a soft grouse hackle, seems to be pretty good. The fly does not look like a caddis to me, but I was shown the fly about 9 years ago for the Spokane and it works. Fish it just below the surface film. Tying the same fly in cream or yellow or green also works at times.

I have a pattern that works very well, for midges and caddis hatches, but you would laugh at it and never try it. I stumbled on the fly while trying to figure out caddis and midges while fishing in Colorado waters about 25 years ago, my own recipe, but I got tired of the jokes about it, so I never show it anymore.

So, why am I telling you this, well, just to say keep trying, and I'll bet you can come up with something as well.

Anglinarcher, I agree wholeheartedly that caddis hatches can be the most difficult hatch to fish, hence my post. There are a plethora of patterns available, but more than in the mayfly hatches I have encountered, the pattern I fish during emergences of caddisflies seems more critical (assuming of course you are using a pattern that imitates the stage trout are selectively feeding on). In a word, the pattern is crucial to one's success, and simply fishing a caddis pupa imiation in the right color and size of the naturals may not be enough (not all patterns are created "equal" so to speak- some seem to work better than others, as your experience seems to attest to).

That being said, I would love to see this pattern you tied (the one that gets all the "laughs"). I do not care what a pattern looks like, especially on the Spokane, where the pattern (when fish are concentrated on pupae in the film ) can make the difference between a great night and a frustrating one. I do not want to impose, but feel free to PM me if you wish. I would be glad to share anything in my box, but it sounds as if you do not need it.

Given the pupal behavior at emergence, I prefer patterns that ride "half-in, half-out" of the water, which I feel better imitates the bevavior of the naturals as they attempt to break through the meniscus and hatch out on the surface. Soft hackles are great patterns to fish during caddis emergences, but sometimes I do not think they can be fished at the proper level, which may not matter as much when trout are taking pupae anywhere in the top 6-12" of the water column. I think I know the pattern you speak of (the one with the pink beads)- is it called a "dink". The Blue Dun used to sell pink and yelllow dinks that I know many people swore by- some reason I never really fished them much.

My initial question was aimed at getting strategies, etc. for those fish which are "rolling" or porpoising", selectively taking pupae right in the film, as opposed to a foot below it. I have caught fish during these periods using soft-hackle type patterns, but typically not the fish which are keyed in on the pupae drifting in the film. Greasing the leader to a few inches within the fly and adjusting presentation angles in order to best mimic that of the naturals works at times, but not enough to my satisfaction. Sometimes trailing a soft hackle off an emerger can be effective, or fishing a dry and an emerger, or two emergers (I tend to fish two fly rigs a lot). Assuming you are "in the game" in respect to the color and size of your pattern, the "level" you are fishing at seems important, particularly if trout are holding near the surface to feed on pupae, as opposed to following them up from the bottom and taking them when they are most vulnerable in the film. In such situations, certain patterns will put you "below" the strike zone, outside of the trout's area of concentration. There is a wider range of "error" when trout are holding on the bottom to feed on pupae, by either following the ascending pupae up through the water column (taking them when they are trapped in the film), or by looking "up" for emerging pupae already in the film and rising to them as they pass over their heads. Given the depth of the water that these emergences will take place in on the Spokane, I am convinced that the trout are holding closer to the surface to feed, and thus you need a pattern which stays in the "strike zone" where fish are selectively feeding (in addition to it being something that accurately matches the natural pupae being ingested by the fish.

This is a topic which books can be written about (and have), but I appreciate the feedback immensely. Thanks for sharing.

Dave

dbk, PM me in about two weeks. I am leaving town for a while and won't be able to show you unti I get back. When I do, return, I'll write up the reasons for my fly and take a few pictures. I'll send it to you, and let you decide.

FYI, the fly rides in the film, not above, not below, but in the film.

Anglinarcher, thank you. I will PM in you a few weeks time. Have a safe trip.

Dave