In the fall of the year we are lucky to have what many believe is the premier caddis hatch of the year. When the trout are going on a feeding binge trying to fatten up for the long winter, along comes this large, awkward, juicy mouthful that "big" trout find hard to resist. If you want to get technical, it's the genus "Dicosmoecus." It's a large fly that is best imitated with a size 8, or at times even a size 6, fly. Patterns like the Stimulator and Bucktail Caddis come to mind. Most of us are familiar with this insect but remember it as a periwinkle. It's that bug that forms a case of pebbles around it and hangs on the downstream side of rocks in the rivers. Somepeople would collect them, pull the larvae from its case and use it for bait.

This large Caddis is found throughout the streams in the Northwest. It builds its case of small pebbles and grazes on the algae growing on the rocks. In the fall, it closes its case and pupates to emerge as an adult caddis fly. It has a plump orange body with a dark wing. It's also an awkward flyer when on its egg-laying flight, sometimes splatting down on the surface, announcing itself as
an easy meal.

Imitating the pupa can be an effective strategy but I have found it less important than imitating the adult. Most of the emergence happens at night or the pupae migrate to the shallows where they are safer to hatch. There are times when dead drifting or swinging a pupa pattern will pay off. Both large trout and even steelhead can be taken by these methods.

It's the dry fly that really gets my attention. I like to present the fly to likely holding spots, plopping the fly down so it makes a splat. While trout will take it dead drifting, it really helps to add a little action to the fly. By snapping your rod tip down (it takes a little practice) you can get the fly to hop or jump, making your fly really look alive. Big trout can't refuse this presentation.

Another tactic this time of year is skating an October Caddis pattern for steelhead. I like to tie one on with a "riffle hitch" and skate it in favorite runs.

If you’re heading to the river anytime soon, arm yourself with an October Caddis. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.