Caddis are among the most prolific bugs in the western hemisphere. Although they’re known for their seasonal hatches (e.g. the “Mother’s Day Caddis”), starting in April and extending through late fall, caddis can hatch year-round. For this reason, you should always have the flies you need to fish them to match each life stage. The Cased Caddis imitates the larval stage, when they build protective cases from sand, pebbles, and plant material. Typically, you’ll find them attached to sticks or rocks underwater but when they become dislodged, either by the moving water or to go in search of food, they become fair game for trout.

Squeeze one of those casings streamside and you’re likely to see a bright green larva emerge. You’ll notice a similar pop of green dubbing on the collar of this fly, just in front of the wool yarn-wrapped body that looks convincingly like the natural’s protective case. A black tungsten bead helps this fly quickly get down close to the bottom of the water column where caddis larva tumble in the current.