The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Nymph

Chimarra Caddis Larva

Insect Species Icon Midges, Caddis
Difficulty Icon Easy - 1-3 Min
Water Category Icon Coldwater

Tying Video

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Tying Recipe
  • Hook: Straight eye, curved bend hook (Dairiki 125 or equivalent)
  • Thread: Yellow Uni-Flexx and orange 70 denier and red/brown 70 denier

Since these insects are yellow to orange in color, replacing the underbody with yellow thread vs orange thread makes them all yellow or yellow/orange.  Substituting yellow uni-flexx with orange makes the orange more prominent.  Mixing and matching yellow/orange uni-flexx with yellow/orange thread helps you mix and match all the ranges of colors these caddis show up in.

Since this is just a few thread materials on a hook, adding to the variation quickly begins to change the pattern.  However, it’s a simple base and a few options can be done below:

  • Beadhead Variation: Adding a gold, brown or red beadhead to the fly means you can replace the red/brown thread with the beadhead and accomplish the same look just with more weight.  You can also use flat lead wire as an underbody.
  • Wired Variation:  You can use yellow or orange wire the wrap the body which makes it heavier without adding a bead.

This fly is easy to tie and is very imitative to the chimarra caddis nymphs that are well known and prevelant in the midwest and east. Hatching in may it’s important to note that the nymphs are orange and yellow and the adults are black. Stock your box accordingly. The slim profile of this pattern helps it to sink quick and get to the bottom where these nymphs reside. With it being simple and easy to tie as well as an excellent imitation, it is a great pattern to have in your box.

The key with this pattern is getting it to the bottom.  These caddis nymphs hang out on the bottoms of rivers and unless getting washed downstream in the current, don’t stray far from the bottom.  When they pupate and begin to emerge, they crawl out onto the edge of the river banks to hatch.  This is similar to a stoneflies behavior and it means fishing the banks during a hatch can be a good idea.

Caddis

General Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Caddis
Sizes: #10 - #22

Midges

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, East, Southeast, Midwest
Midges
Sizes: #14 - #26

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