The early season caddis hatch is one of the finest hatch cycles and a perfect season kick-off. Even if they are moderate in size, the first real hatch of the season might lure a nice trout or grayling trouts to the surface. In Trysil (Norway) there is an exceptional early caddis hatch. Just a few weeks after the ice melts, just when the stoneflies are peaking, the early season caddis hatch starts. It usually start in mid-May, and continues for about three weeks.
The good thing about these early season caddis hatches is that they emerge in the water. They do not, as many other of their cousins, hatch on rocks or on land. Hatching in the water, means that they are also attractive to imitate as emergers. There are several ways to approach these situations, but you can’t go wrong if you tie on the Klinkhamer or the Rena Caddis Emerger in the right color.
Observing a really good caddis swarm is fascinating. They do not come as intense as in these pictures year every year, but when they do you simply have to stop fishing to observe the squadrons as they swarm over the water (keep your mouth closed, though). If you do keep on fishing, do not be tempted to tie on a caddis imitation. They’re all in the air swarming, not on the water.
One of the most interesting phases in the caddis life cycle for the fly fisher is at the time of egg laying. A few days after swarming, you can see them approaching the water in squadrons, loaded with their little green eggs. The fish can get crazy and selective on the egg laying caddis as she jumps up and down in the water to drop the eggs.
