The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
Little Black Caddis, Caddis
Easy - 1-3 Min
Coldwater
The best variations for this pattern come in mixing dubbing colors and CDC colors. CDC comes in a variety of colors now and most fly shops carry them. Mixing different color bodies with different CDC wing colors helps you get a variety of flies that imitate a caddis or even a spent/cripple mayfly.
The cdc seems to be the real trick to this pattern. I’ve fished the bighorn often and if it’s not CDC the fish can get downright picky during a caddis hatch. The CDC requires a fly duster like frogs fanny to be continually added to the fly once it starts sinking, but make sure to just get the CDC and not the body. The body will just sink under the water and produce best in this way. It’s a versatile pattern to learn and changing colors can get you a large box of very imitative CDC caddis.
Don’t be afraid to let this fly sink just below the surface. Often times the CDC will hold a bubble of air under itself and then sink. This really gets the fish excited and often creates a strike. Using fly duster can help create this bubble, but make sure to only fluff the CDC and leave the body dark. If the body gets too white from the powder the fish can refuse it.
I like to fish a black hi-vis elk hair caddis on point and then this fly behind it to help me keep sight of my fly and both patterns can work well together in catching fish.
| General Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Caddis Sizes: #10 - #22
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| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Region: West
Little Black Caddis Sizes: #14 - #20
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Region: Northwest
Little Black Caddis Sizes: #14 - #20
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Region: East, Midwest
Little Black Caddis Sizes: #14 - #20
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Region: Southeast
Little Black Caddis Sizes: #14 - #20
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Copyright © 2003 – 2025 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved.