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| Hook: #6 TMC 200R; Thread: rust-brown UNI 8/0; Hackle: rust-brown brahma hen; Body: ginger antron with a pinch of orange trilobal; Wing: gadwall, dyed with orange marker, wound as a collar, fibers on top painted with a black marker. |
Gary LaFontaine held the
opinion that October Caddis (Dicosmocus)
is the most important “big fish insect” of the West, & I agree, insofar as
it reflects my own experience. For what that’s worth. I’ve been fortunate to
have lived for a long time beside a river where that is certainly a truth.
Not only does the big fall
sedge bring up some of the best trout of the year, its emergence occurs during
my favorite time of year, September & October, in Northeast Washington; its
russet coloration true to autumn’s palette & begging simulation. It's size, coloration & habits seem to leave October Caddis wide open to interpretation.
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| Hook: #6 TMC 200R; Thread: rust-brown UNI 8/0; Body: ginger antron with a pinch of orange trilobal; Wing: turkey tail fibers, rolled; Hackle: rust-brown brahma hen fronted with guinea hen. |
Though the cased larvae might
be an important food source to trout in some streams, particularly streams with
finer gravels, they aren’t generally available to trout in streams with heavy
rubble bottoms that afford larvae sheltering crevices. On my home water, with a bottom mostly
composed of rounded, skull-sized glacial till, it’s the uncased pupa &
winged adult stages that get the important play.
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| Dropper Pupa - Hook: #4 Gamakatsu octopus; Thread: rust-brown UNI 8/0; Rib: gold wire; Body: ginger antron with a pinch of orange trilobal; Antennae: turkey tail fibers; Hackle: tannish-orange brahma hen. The heavy hook sinks this one without dragging the dryfly under. And swims better than a beadhead. |
Of its many desirable
attributes, the giant fall sedge lends itself to the spectrum of presentations
– as a dropper fished under a dryfly or bobber, as a dryfly, or a wetfly,
either winged or wingless.
Designs meant to be swung or skated are often effective when OC are present, providing a good opportunity for trout spey.
Designs meant to be swung or skated are often effective when OC are present, providing a good opportunity for trout spey.
