Dicosmoecus pallicornis …THE OC…For FALL

The pupae of the October Caddis is the stage of this insects’ growth that I most frequently focus on. This particular species, Dicosmoecus pallicornis, is found in the moving waters that I fish here in California’s Eastern Sierras…

“Dave Blackburn, who runs Kootenai Angler in Libby, Montana. also swears by (October) caddis larva and pupa imitations during fall. “I like to use a big caddis pupa fished under an indicator, Blackburn said. Those pupae have a yellow body, so any large pupa with a yellow coloration will work. A lot of people tie an orange pupae because the adults have an orange coloration, but those guys don’t do as well because the pupa are actually yellow.”

Blackburn speaks the truth. If you inspect an October caddis larva or pupa out of its case, you will see an almost white bug with a black head and legs. Tie your caddis patterns accordingly. (Old Whitehead, Dave Whitlock, interjects that the genus Dicosmoecus has more than one species; over their broad geographic range the larvae vary from white through pale yellow to a reddish-brown that could be called orange.)”

From: Flyfishing & Tying Journal, pg. 42, Fall 2004

Please find additional information on the BUG:

HERE

and…

HERE

I particularly like Skip Morris’ “Brick Back Caddis” to imitate the pupae of this Caddis…The “hump” shape of the abdomen’s rear appears more like the real insect…

BRICK BACK CADDIS (Variant)…side view…

BRICK BACK CADDIS (Variant)…tilted view…

HOOK: Heavy wire, long shank  -TMC 2302, Daiichi 1260 #6-#12…I used a TMC 200R

BEAD: Black Metal 1/8 “

WEIGHT: Lead or lead sub. wire, one layer 0.015 over a layer of 0.020

THREAD: Brown 3/0 ( one may switch to brown 6/0 or 8/0 after abdomen is formed)

ABDOMEN:

My mix…all chopped up and blended…the material in the upper left hand corner is something I will be adding to many of my caddis abdomens in the future…

LIGAS may still be ordered HERE…

BARS: Brown Zelon, one full strand

WINGLETS: Brown Zelon, one full strand, each side

LEGS: One Speckled Brown, hen-neck saddle feather

THORAX: UV Ice Dub Brown

This insect, in the Eastern Sierras, runs a bit smaller than its’ cousins in waters further North, so I have taken the liberty of adding # 12 size hook to the recipe…it is not found in the Eastern US…I may do a tutorial – on tying this pattern – if there be interest…?

 

*TUTORIAL*

NEXT: BAETIS…the “Dirty Dozen” for Fall…

PT/TB