BC Interior Stillwater Caddis Pupa

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Brian Chan Stillwater Caddis Pupa Fly …

The Stillwater Caddis Pupa is a great fly to utilize during early to mid-summer evenings on most of the best fly fishing lakes in the Kamloops area! Although this fly tying segment is dedicated to the caddis pupa, it is important to have a bit of an understanding of its entire life cycle before proceeding.

Stillwater Caddis Pupa Fly | Sedge/Caddis History …

Like chironomids, the caddisfly life cycle consists of a full metamorphosis including stages as egg, larva, pupa, and adult. For up to 2 years the larva inhabits rocky shoals and weed beds along the lake bottom. Once ready to emerge the larvae pupate in their casing at the bottom of the lake and crawl out from it looking completely different. During this short stage of life it swims quickly in an angle upward using it’s long oar like legs, it’s antenna sweeping backwards the length of the body. Once free from the pupal shuck the adult will spend a few seconds with it’s wings upright drying, then it folds them down in a tent like shape over the body and begins to jump and scurry across the water surface attempting to fly. Once airborne it flies to the shoreline foliage returning during the day to drink. After mating has occurred the females return to the water surface to deposit their eggs by skimming across the surface.

The sedge pupa can range from a 1/4 inch to over 1 inch in length. Body colour is dependent on it’s natural environment but light brown to dark greens are the norm. You will find the pupa emerging wherever you found the larvae in the spring, usually in 10 – 20 feet of water with a weedy bottom.

*For more entomology, behavior and fishing information on Caddis & Sedges please visit our “Fly Fishing Caddis & Sedges” page.

Brian Chan’s Still Water Caddis Pupa fly pattern

One of the best still water sedge pupa fly patterns that we have come across for the BC Interior/Kamloops area lakes is the Brian Chan Stillwater Caddis Pupa fly pattern. Here’s how to tie it ……..

Stillwater Caddis Pupa Fly |Material List:

Hook: Tiemco 200R size 8 – 12
Thread: Olive 8/0
Rib: Lime green super floss
Body: Arizona synthetic peacock dubbing
Wing case: Pheasant tail
Thorax: Peacock herl
Legs: Pheasant tail fibers
Beard: Peacock angel hair
Head: Peacock herl

Stillwater Caddis Pupa Fly | Tying Instructions:

1. Wind the thread onto the hook and tie in a piece of the lime green super floss.
2. Dub in the Arizona synthetic peacock and form the abdomen to 3/4 of the hook shank.
3. Counter wind the rib over the body and secure.
4. Tie in the wing case back over a small portion of the abdomen.
5. Add in 2 – 3 strands of peacock herl by the tips and wind forward to form the thorax.
6. Take 3 – 4 pheasant tail fibers and secure in place on one side to form the legs – repeat for the other side. The legs should extend to the bend of the hook.
7. Pull the wing case over the thorax and secure in place – trim the excess.
8. Add a sparse amount of peacock angel hair for a beard.
9. Tie in a strand of peacock herl and build the head.
10. Whip finish.

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Stillwater Caddis Pupa Fly (Variant) | Tying Video:

Stillwater Caddis Pupa Fly | Fishing It …

Our preferred line is a full floater with a long leader but an intermediate sink or sink tip also works well. Either way let the fly sink and then retrieve it upwards at a 45 degree angle to imitate emerging naturals as they stroke their way towards the surface. Three or four short (6″ish) pulls, rest, and then repeat. Occasionally trout prefer to hunt the natural when it is stationary. If and when this is the case hook on a strike indicator and fish the Stillwater Caddis Pupa fly like a chrony; or omit the indicator and retrieve ever so slowly making sure to keep the slack out of your line and staying in touch with the fly as it’s amazing how subtle the takes can sometimes be.

That’s it folks; tie some up and get fishing!

*** if you’re interested in custom tied, time tested & proven effective BC Interior fly patterns, but would rather buy than tie, please Contact us for details!

*** for more effective BC stillwater fly fishing patterns be sure to check out all of flies on our BCs best fly patterns index page!

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