Hidy Ho Good Neighbors!’
My dad used to say, “Even a broken clock is right twice a day”. That was usually in reference to me being right and he being wrong. Don’t remember that happening very often. The reason this comes to mind is because of some events that have taken place in the last week.
By all accounts, the Eagle River by Minturn, has very solid caddis hatches. I love caddis. They force the trout to get aggressive because of their “moth-like” tendencies. When caddis pupate and rise through the water columns, they typically use an air bubble to assist in the ascent. They usually rise fairly fast and depending on the water in which they hatch, they usually hit the surface and flutter off almost immediately. This forces trout to chase them, and try to eat them before they escape, and splashy eats usually result.
You can fish caddis poorly. In other words, the more movement or “skate” you put on the adult imitations, and the amount of “swing” you put on the pupa, the more the fish will attack them. Sure, you can dead drift the larva and pupa and pick up fish, but the real fun comes when you purposely swing the pupa through the columns across the current. I outline several ways to do this In The Fly Fishers Playbook, but one of my favorite techniques is to stop following my indicator with the rod tip about three quarters the way thru the drift. At this point, drag will take over and swing your bugs just like they are pupating. Do the same with the adults on the surface too.
Back to the “broken clock” thought. Sat down the other day, did a bit of research, and came up with a neat caddis pupa designed to match the bugs on the Eagle. Haven’t been to the Eagle yet this week (on it in a couple days), but I couldn’t wait to test the pattern, so I hit Clear Creek during nasty run-off just to check performance. It worked. Love it when a plan comes together.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut or two…….
Fear No Water,
Duane
duaneredford.com 
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