Steelhead Caddis

The Pacific Northwest has some spectacular giant caddis hatches. Most of these hatches are in the fall when bright steelhead return from the Pacific Ocean. These fat bodied orange caddis can become the targets for steelhead. Caddis waking and wet flies can provides some of the most exciting fishing to be had with a fly rod. There are apparently a number of different species in what is commonly called October Caddis or Fall Caddis or Giant Caddis. Most belong to the family Dicosmoecus.

October Caddis Bill Bakke became intensely interested in wild steelhead behavior in the 1960's. After reading stories by Roderick Haig-Brown, about summer steelhead being taken on "bee pattern" waking fly, Bill designed his fly in caddis colors.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
21115-04	October Caddis	4	3 for $5.95
21115-06	October Caddis	6	3 for $5.95

Steelhead Caddis, Orange Somewhere along the line Bill McMillan joined up with Bill Bakke and they fished waking for steelhead in Southwest Washington and Northern Oregon. McMillan's Caddis imitation took on a different form than Bakke's. It was influenced by several muddler minnow patters that also became popular "damp" flies in the 1960-70 era. When tied and fished well, both the fly and the presentation are delicate and lend themselves well to low-water fall rivers.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
21645-06	Steelhead Caddis, Orange	6	3 for $5.95

Grease Liner, Orange There were other guys experimenting with waking flies during the '60-'70-'80 era, guys like Harry Lemire who is credited with catching huge British Columbia steelhead with a waking fly he called the Grease Liner. It was dark brown & black. It's hard to say who was the first fisher to tie the Greased Liner in fall caddis colors. The first I remember reading about was in an article by Mike Deeker where he discussed his "Bubble Head" series, which were modified Grease Liners. He cemented the wing buttes into an upward facing scoop that would naturally plow water
and make his flies wake without being riffle hitched. Ours are tied with this scoop.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
21000-04	Grease Liner, Orange	4	3 for $5.95
21000-06	Grease Liner, Orange	6	3 for $5.95

Top Spot Skater, Fall Caddis is a unique pattern that fishes most of the spring, summer and fall seasons, but is at its best when the big orange caddis are in flight during the fall. This is a jazzed up version of another Bill Bakke pattern called Dragon Fly that has also been around since the 1960's. You will find that the "Top Spot Skater" wakes in a wide variety of water types.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
01146-04	Top Spot Skater, Fall Caddis	4	3 for $6.75

Steelhead Tied-Down Caddis This is one of the most successful Western fly patterns of all time. The Tied-Down Caddis has been used to fool many trout and steelhead. It may be fished wet or dry. Ours are tied on heavy nickel plated Eagle Claw hooks to help sink the buoyant deer hair wing. This is one of the "sleeper" flies for very clear water.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
21720-04	Steelhead Tied-Down Caddis	4	3 for $5.95
21720-06	Steelhead Tied-Down Caddis	6	3 for $5.95

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October Caddis	Top Spot Skater, Fall Caddis
Steelhead Caddis, Orange	Steelhead Tied-Down Caddis
Grease Liner, Orange