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Alder Caddis Fly
Pattern Image:
General Description:
The zebra caddis gets its name for the beautiful patterning on its wings. It is also called the alder fly for its habit of hanging out on the undersides of streamside alder leaves. It's not related to the true alder fly, which is not a caddis. Zebra caddis larvae live in tailwaters and streams that form in lake systems. They spin nets with very fine mesh. Plankton grows only in still water; their meshes are perfect for filtering plankton from brisk currents downstream from reservoirs, lakes, and ponds. They live in riffles, but usually in drainages that border on warmwater fisheries. The larvae gather in clusters on and under rocks in riffles. Zebra caddis survive predation in all stages, larva, pupa, and adult, by sheer numbers. They hatch in late June to mid-July, in afternoon and evening.
Stage Description:
Zebra caddis adults have wings patterned in puplish-gray and tan, serving as camouflage. Their bodies are so dark green as to be almost black. They are size 12 to 16. Adults are more often available when females lay their eggs than they are when emerging. Fish a pupa pattern through the hatch, then watch for egg-laying flights in afternoon and evening, before switching to a floating adult imitation. The females dive into the water with a splat, and swim to the bottom. It's wise to use a dressing that you can fish as a dry at the upper end of each drift, then pop under and swing through the last part of the drift as a wet fly. This lets you imitate both the floating and submerged natural with the same pattern, and on the same cast. You'll soon know which way trout prefer it.
Hook:
Standard dry fly, size 12-16.
Thread:
Brown 8/0.
Body:
Dark olive dubbing.
Hackle:
Brown.
Category:
Trout Flies: Imitators
Insect Family:
Caddisflies (order Trichoptera)
Insect:
Zebra caddis; alder fly (Macrostenum zebratum)
Stage:
Adult
Pattern Name:
Alder Caddis Fly
Rib:
Undersized brown hackle, palmered.
Wing:
Natural deer hair.
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