For those of you having trouble with a drag-free drift in your presentation, I’ve got some great news: there are times when dramatic drag against your imitation is just the key for catching trout. With a slight flick of the wrist or a simple twitch of the line, you’re able to breathe life into your fly and, in so doing, greatly improve your angling success.
Some aquatic insects swim through the water column or move around on the surface. A dead-drifted fly would represent a poor imitation of these bugs. Instead, you need to impart life-like motion to the fly – to manipulate it using your rod and line, much as a puppeteer manipulates the strings of a marionette. A fly moved properly brings such aggressive strikes that I get zapped just thinking about it!
Caddis dry flies are particularly appropriate for puppeteering techniques because the adult female caddis tends to flit and bounce erratically on a stream as she lays her eggs. making her a prime target for hungry, excitable trout. Let’s take a closer look at this egg-laying phase of the female caddis and the puppeteering techniques you would apply to control “induced drag.’
During her return to the water’s surface, the female will deposit her eggs in one of two manners. In the first scenario, she might opt to cut through the film and dive directly toward the stream bottom. The eggs are then attached to an object, often a stone or a piece of wood, and afterward, the adult bolts back to the surface.
In the second scenario. the female caddis might actually try scattering her eggs right at the surface level. While she’s dancing and darting about she’ll be dipping her abdomen into the water, releasing eggs. Under both scenarios, trout feed zealously on the egg-laden females.
To simulate the behavior of the diving adult, I attach a micro split-shot a few inches above an Elk Hair Caddis. Casting down and across the current, I give the flyline a sharp pull to dart the imitation underwater. I continue to ‘dive’ the fly as it drifts by applying short, sharp strips. For added effect, I often give a slight downward twitch with my rod tip between each hand strip, which causes the fly to ride a short distance within a feeding lane rather than sweep across it.
A caddisfly’s surface antics are also a lot of fun to interpret with your fly rod. Use an imitation that presents a full-bodied silhouette and floats well. Cast across, or down and across, and let your fly drift for a short distance.
Remove the slack in your line, then lift the rod tip to create a wake against the current. With a few rapid sideways twitches, begin to ‘scoot ‘n’ skitter’ your offering: cut it across the current; jump the fly upstream; rest it every so often (adult caddis will rest and ride the current downstream for short distances).
In essence, keep your approach lively and a bit erratic, and use drag to your advantage. As a puppeteer, here’s your chance to let the illusion of life radiate from your fingertips down through the tippet and into the fly.
California trout waters experience prolific caddis hatches throughout the fishing season. During autumn, one of the most spectacular of the hatches is the large and meaty October Caddis. I’ve witnessed trout make some wild chases to feed on these insects. If fishing the pupae, retrieve it using two-inch strips. If fishing the dry, dance it rather than swim it; the majority of the caddis you’ll see are ovipositing their eggs at the surface, not under water.
I’m a strong believer in a pro-caddis approach to most of our home waters. In fact, a simple larval imitation such as the Peeking Caddis is usually my first choice in a searching pattern on new waters. You couldn’t ask for a better puppet than a caddis fly.
