Mother's Day Caddis Hatch Erupted! // Yakima River Fishing Report

The Mother's Day Hatch blew its lid yesterday, and conditions are excellent!

 

 

 

 

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Strategy for the Mother's Day Caddis Hatch

 

 

 

 

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Nymphs for the Caddis Hatch

Having a plan for the timeline and variations in feeding activity is critical.  At times, the trout will remain exclusively subsurface as the pupae are active, but not yet rising to the surface. You can use a variety of nymphing strategies with Caddis oriented patterns like these in the #16/#14 range.  You can use small indicators, tight line (Euro style), or dry droppers.

Nick's Fat Ass Cadass
HDA Fav Variant"
French Dip Chartreuse
Meat Head
Blowtorch
Partridge Soft Hackle

Emergers for Caddis Hatch

As the hatch begins and the pupae begin to move toward the surface, trout will often rise in a splashy fashioned that makes it appear they are hitting surface when in fact they are just underneath!  An emerger pattern that is just under or in the surface film is the answer. Emergers can be fished in the first few inches of the water column, below that we consider it "nymphing", or they can be fished right in the surface film.  These patterns imitate the insects most vulnerable state, emergence. Suspended there on the surface for all the trout to see... or eat!

Partridge Soft Hackles (both Hare's Ear and Peacock) - Fish this fly as a nymph, swing it, dead drift it a few inches under the surface, or put a dab of floatant on the hackle. I like to fish this in tandem with a more visible dry fly.

Corn Fed Caddis - Make sure not to put too much floatant on this, and avoid putting it on the trailing shuck which should remain soggy and help imitate the Caddis attempting to struggle out of its pupal skin.  Also, with CDC we reccomend Lochsa Floatant.  

E/C Caddis Cutter - This is a GREAT all around fly!  It's essentially a classic X-Caddis with a trailing shuck with a parachute hackle to provide consistent floatation.  BE SURE TO ONLY PUT FLOATANT ON THE WING.  :) Yes, that was me yelling.  

Adult Caddis Dry Fly Patterns

Later in the hatch our shorelines will be shaggy with Caddis!  They land in the grass, trees, and everywhere and the banks are covered. At this time the female Caddis undergo gestation and will soon return to the water to lay eggs and ovaposite them. That's what they are doing when they are jumping up and down on the water.  At this time you want a fly that is perched high on the surface and has the ability to skitter, skate, and dance.  A good hackle under elk hair is the best!

Better Foam Caddis
The Gunch
Elk Hair Caddis Hot Wing
RIO Parachute Caddis
RIO's Hen Wing Caddis