Posts tagged "green caddis"

Early March Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 1, 2022

Now that it’s the first of March, it’s time to start thinking about fishing again!

It’s been a pretty cold winter with a few mild days mixed in to help keep the snowpack reduced. These mini run-off situations gave some bumps to the water levels which encouraged a few steelhead to come into the local rivers like the Manistee, Bear Creek and the Betsie. Water temps have been pegged in the mid-30s with, but with overnight temps staying in the double digits, things will slowly warm and fishing will only improve.

This time of a year the sun can come out just enough to help warm the water up just a bit. But if it is too warm and causes run-off from melting snow, the water temp usually drops making fish that tend to be lethargic even more so, and a little grumpy too. As we get a few warm-up cycles, look for fishing to improve, especially on the smaller rivers that tend to fluctuate quicker (think warmer) than bigger rivers.

Dead-drift egg and nymph combinations are your best bet this time of year, especially in some of the deeper slower moving water where a lot of the fall and winter hold over fish have taken up residence. The fish are shuffling around a little with the days getting longer with some steelhead starting to stage near the gravel sections of rivers. If you are fishing near gravel where salmon spawned in the fall, don’t hesitate to fish Alevin or even Fry patterns as these are starting to become active. Small (#10 and 12) Green Caddis in clear water can be real effective this time of year, too.

If you are looking to get fired up about fishing, check out the Fly Fishing Film Tour (FT3) this Saturday, March 5th, hosted by The Northern Angler at The City Opera House here in Traverse City.

Good luck.

Ted

May Days – The month that offers so much variety for a number of species. <<More info>>
Match the Hatch – Late May and June offer dry fly anglers some of the best trout fishing of the year.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain available in October, November and into December.

alevin pattern, betsie river, egg patterns, fly fishing guide, fonzi fry, fry pattern, green caddis, manistee river steelhead fishing, steelhead fishing, traverse city, traverse city fly fishing

Early April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 2, 2021

With the start of April behind us, anglers are finding water levels on the Manistee and Betsie uncharacteristically low and clear for this time of year. The region hasn’t received any significant rain yet this year and the snow melt has been gone for over a month. Without the rivers rising and being stained, the steelhead migration has been more of trickle than a “run”.

The fall fish that wintered over and those that came throughout the winter have already performed their spawning and moved back to the lake. There are a lot of empty gravel beds which should help with wild fish reproduction rates – all of our rivers could stand a population increase. Fishing has been tough as we continue to experience more anglers and less fish. Sure helps make the case for catch and release for those that don’t practice it.

With the water being clear, lighter line and smaller flies have been working better than the bigger and bolder patterns. Eggs and beads in smaller sizes and natural color schemes (orange-ish) have been working better than others. The green caddis tied in size 8 and 10 have been working well and the fry bite is starting to take place as more juvenile salmon fry are swimming around clueless – the fry bite is one of the more aggressive takes while nymphing. Don’t forget your black stones and hex nymphs.

The long-term weather forecast is calling for more of the same – dry conditions and mild temps. With the water in the low 40’s it might be a good thing that we don’t have a big push of water as the steelhead run would likely be condensed to a short 5 day event. As it looks, it will be a long, slow trickle of fish, until any appreciable rain and runoff takes place.

Good luck.

Ted

Trout Fishing – May and June offer some of the best streamer and dry fly hatches of the year.
Learn to Fly Fish – Tailor a half-day trip to learning how to fly fish –
perfect for beginners or those looking to dial in a new technique.
Fall Steelhead – Some good dates remain in November and into December

betsie river, egg patterns, fonzi fry, fry pattern, green caddis, guide trips, hex pattern, manistee river, steelhead patterns, tippy dam

Early April Steelhead Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - March 30, 2019

As March turns to April we are finding steelhead in most of the rivers which are in good shape as the snow melt thankfully has been slow and gradual. Levels are slightly elevated, and they have color to them, but still enough visibility remains to offer good fishing on the Manistee, Betise and other rivers in northwest Michigan. A significant rainfall can change all that but until that happens take advantage of the conditions.

The days are longer and some sunny days are helping to increase the water temps into the upper 30s. Smaller rivers that tend to warm/fluctuate quickly have a few fish beginning to spawn but majority of the fish are still in a pre-spawn mode and either holding in deeper holes near gravel or migrating upstream in chutes and runs.

Along with nicer weather and a flip of the calendar the rivers are becoming more popular with anglers anxious to shake cabin fever; keep in mind we are all trying to share the resource. And speaking of resources, please limit your harvest as steelhead can return year after year making for good fishing in the future.

There hasn’t been an fly pattern that has been outproducing others – just the typical assortment which includes large and bold egg patterns (chartreuse and orange colors), green caddis and ice buggers.

Good luck.

Ted

Just a reminder that new fishing licenses are required April 1, 2019

Trout – May and June offers some of the best trout fishing of the year matching the hatch and fishing streamers.
Fall Steelhead– It’s not too early to look ahead to fall run of these fish. Hard fighting and a beautiful time of year.
Booking 2019 – Reserve your date(s) and schedule life around fishing rather than trying to fit fishing into life.

april steelhead fishing, egg patterns, green caddis, ice buggers, manistee river below tippy, rag egg, steelhead fishing, steelhead fishing report

Early April Fishing Report

Posted by Ted Kraimer - April 1, 2017

It’s April and this is the time to think steelhead if you haven’t been thinking about them already. With the mild winter and thaws, the fishing has been mostly good in March with a mix of winter and fresh fish with more to come as the days get longer, more rainfall brings water levels up and temperatures get warmer.

The local rivers all have fish in them including the Boardman, Betsie and Manistee. Fish are just beginning to spawn with more fish holding in pocket water and holes near spawning gravel waiting for optimum conditions. Water temps are bouncing around 40 degrees and clarity is good for this time of year with just a slight stain. While the cloudy days have made for cooler conditions, the fishing is noticeably better than when the sun makes an appearance.

No real game changers on successful fly patterns in the past week or so: Eggs in Chartreuse/Steelhead Orange, Rodeo Clown, Golden Nugget/Burnt Orange. Nymphs: green Caddis, fry, UPSC, small stones. With the water warming up we are starting to see some stones flutter on the surface and that means stonefly nymphs below. Also, as more natural eggs begin to drop, it might be time to start fishing the smaller, natural sized egg patterns especially with the clearer water.

With spring break taking place it’s been good to see some parents getting kids to the river for some fishing including some little guys with some real impressive skills. And they have been nice, happy, polite and friendly kids. Don’t let your kids be the ones that get away – get them outdoors when you can.

Just a reminder – new fishing licenses are required beginning April 1. And sections of certain rivers (Little Manistee and Platte) are now open for steelhead fishing.

The MI-DNR has released their trout “management” plan and are seeking comments – if interested, you can read by clicking here.

May Fishing – Trout, late steelhead, hatches, streamer fishing, bluegill on lakes – don’t overlook fishing in May.
Trout – The hatches of late May lead into June making for some of the year’s best dry fly fishing – don’t miss out.
2017 Fishing – Plan your year around your fishing – get your dates on the calendar, life will fit in around it.

April fishing, black stonefly, boardman river, caddis, egg patterns, green caddis, manistee river steelhead. MI-DNR trout, manistee river steelhead. platte river, steelhead, stonefly

Green Caddis – Steelhead and Salmon

Posted by Ted Kraimer - September 21, 2015

V-Rib or Vinyl Rib Caddis

It seems that each spring and fall when the steelhead are around, I find I didn’t tie enough flies in the off season to keep my boxes well stocked. Thankfully there are a few patterns that are quick and easy to tie, but more importantly, they are effective. The green caddis is one of them.

Caddis insects line the bottom of many rivers and their cases can often be seen clinging to rocks and logs. A gentle squeeze of that casing will bring the little grub-looking larvae out, and you will see the bright green resemblance to these patterns. While the naturals are very small (typically size 12-20), we fish them in larger sizes – serving, I think, more as an attractor or suggestion, rather than a perfect imitation of the natural caddis.

Steelhead Caddis – Dubbed

Fish love chartreuse, and some of you may have heard the expression – “It ain’t no use – unless it’s chartreuse.” We kind of say that as a joke, but when fishing’s tough, chartreuse can turn “fishing” into “catching.” The green caddis is a pattern in that color spectrum we use to bend the rod, and it often leaves us wondering why we didn’t try chartreuse earlier.

Although I feel this is one of the easiest fly patterns to tie, I often get requests to demonstrate in fly tying classes, so I thought I would post it on this website. The green caddis is also a great pattern to get new fly tiers interested in the craft as well as fill their own fly box.

Viagra Caddis

There are so many versions of this pattern I thought I would include a few as they are pretty much tied the same, it’s just that the materials are different. Other names of similar patterns include: PM Caddis, Boogie Woogie Caddis, Steelhead Caddis and more.

Tie a bunch of green caddis for yourself and chuckle at their ease and smile at their effectiveness.

Click to skip to fly tying instructions:

Diamond Braid Green Caddis
Vinyl Rib Caddis (aka V-Rib Caddis)
Steelhead Caddis – Dubbed
Viagra Caddis

Diamond Braid Green Caddis

Recipe

Hook: TMC 2457 #8-12
Thread: Uni 6/O – Chartreuse and Black
Body: Dyed Pearl Diamond Braid –
Collar: Hen Saddle – Speckled Brown
Head: Super Bright Dubbing – Black

Fly Tying Instructions:

Step 1. Place hook into vise and wrap a thread base from
behind hook eye to above barb and back again to behind the eye.

Step 2. Tie in Diamond Braid on top of the hook – a hook eye’s distance behind the eye
(leaving room for the head). Wrap over the braid to above the hook barb and back again.

Step 3. Tightly wrap the Diamond Braid forward and tie off leaving room for the head. Tie off and whip finish.

Step 4. Using black thread, restart behind the hook eye. Take the tip of the feather
and pull back majority of the fibers and tie in between the body material and hook eye.
Select a feather so the lengths of the feather barbs don’t extend beyond the body.

Step 5. Wrap the feather forward, one wrap in front of the other covering the hook and tie off.

Step 6. Apply dubbing to the thread and wrap a snug head that is the same diameter as the body material. Tie off.

Optional – You can tie this pattern and omit the collar.

Vinyl Rib Green Caddis

Recipe

Hook: TMC 2457 #8-12
Thread: Uni 6/O – Chartreuse and Black
Body: Vinyl Rib – FL Chartreuse – Medium
Collar: Hen Saddle – Speckled Brown
Head: Super Bright Dubbing – Black

Fly Tying Instructions:

Step 1. Place hook into vise and wrap a thread base from behind
hook eye to above barb and back again to behind the eye.

Step 2. Concave side up, tie Vinyl Rib on top of the hook – a hook eye’s distance behind the eye
(leaving room for the head). Wrap over the v-rib to above the hook barb and back again.

Step 3. Tightly wrap the V-Rib forward, snugly in front of the previous wrap.
Finish where V-rib was tied in. Tie off and whip finish thread and cut.

Step 4. Using black thread, restart behind the hook eye. Take the tip of the feather and
pull back majority of the fibers and tie in between the body materia and hook eye.
Select a feather so the lengths of the feather barbs don’t extend beyond the body.

Step 5. Wrap the feather forward, one wrap in front of the other covering the hook and tie off.

Step 6. Apply dubbing to the thread and wrap a snug head that is the same diameter as the body material. Tie off.

Optional – You can tie this pattern and omit the collar.

Dubbed Green Caddis

Recipe

Hook: TMC 2457 #8-12
Thread: Uni 6/O – Chartreuse and Black
Body: Super Bright Dubbing – FL Chartreuse
Rib: Vinyl Rib – FL Chartreuse – Nymph
Collar: Hen Saddle – Speckled Brown
Head: Super Bright Dubbing – Black

Fly Tying Instructions:

Step 1. Place hook into vise and wrap a thread base from behind
hook eye to above barb and back again to behind the eye.

Step 2. Concave side up, tie Vinyl Rib on top of the hook – a hook eye’s distance behind the eye
(leaving room for the head). Wrap over the v-rib to above the hook barb and back again.

Step 3. Apply dubbing to thread and build a body to behind the hook eye.

Step 4. Wind rib through the dubbed body and tie off.

Step 5. Using black thread, restart behind the hook eye. Take the tip of the feather
and pull back majority of the fibers and tie in between the body material and hook eye.
Select a feather so the lengths of the feather barbs don’t extend beyond the body.

Step 6. Wrap the feather forward, one wrap in front of the other covering the hook and tie off.

Step 7. Apply dubbing to the thread and wrap a snug head that is the same diameter as the body material. Tie off.

Optional – You can tie this pattern and omit the collar.

Viagra Caddis

Recipe

Hook: TMC 2457 #8-12
Thread: Uni 6/O – Chartreuse and Black
Body: Ultra Chenille – FL Chartreuse – Standard
Collar: Hen Saddle – Speckled Brown
Head: Super Bright Dubbing – Black

Fly Tying Instructions:

Step 1. Place hook into vise and wrap a thread base from behind hook eye to above hook point.

Step 2. Use a lighter and heat up – not directly – the end of the chenille to singe and form a tapered end.

Step 3. Tie in the ultra chenille with the tapered end pointing
towards the bend of the hook. Advance the thread towards the hook eye.

Step 4. Wrap the ultra chenille 2/3rds towards the hook eye. Tie off.

Step 5. Take the tip of the hen saddle feather and pull back majority of the
fibers and tie in between the body material and hook eye. Select a feather
so the lengths of the feather barbs don’t extend beyond the bend of the hook.

Step 6. Wrap the feather forward, one wrap in front of the other covering the hook and tie off.

Step 7. Apply dubbing to the thread and wrap a snug head that is the same diameter as the body material. Tie off.

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