When to use it
- Before emergence and whenever exposed larvae are active.
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Reviewed representative comparison← Fly Box
Pattern family · guide 58
Caddis Larva Patterns
A subsurface family for free-living, net-spinning, and cased-caddis larva imitations.
- Size range
- Varies by species; often #10–18
- Colors reviewed
- green, cream, tan, brown case
- Imitates
- free-living caddis larva, net-spinning caddis larva, cased caddis larva
Caddis larvae are not pupae. Slender free-living and net-spinning forms, curved soft-bodied imitations, and cased-caddis patterns differ in body and behavior.
Technical illustration
Representative forms
Caddis Larva Patterns stage map
A family-level comparison of Free-living larva, Net-spinning larva, Cased caddis larva; no single drawing represents the whole family.
- View
- stage comparison map
- Color shown
- green, cream, tan, and brown
- Look for
- free-living larva; net-spinning larva; cased larva; no pupa wing pads
On the water
Narrow the family.
The river, depth, insects, and fish behavior still decide the final presentation. These are reviewed starting points—not a claim about what is happening today.
How to fish it
- Dead-drift near bottom with enough weight for the lane.
Mistakes to avoid
- Calling a pupa a larva.
- Using one cased profile for every larval type.
Variant control
Small changes matter.
This stage comparison keeps materially different forms labeled. It is a family guide, not a claim that one fly represents every stage or local species.
Representative stage forms
Caddis larvae are not pupae. Slender free-living and net-spinning forms, curved soft-bodied imitations, and cased-caddis patterns differ in body and behavior.- Colors shown
- green, cream, tan, brown case
- Weighting
- Weight and buoyancy depend on the life stage and exact named pattern.
Review trail
Sources, rights, and limits.
Pattern facts were reviewed on 2026-07-12. Every image has its own rights record; photographed hand-tied flies may still vary slightly in proportion.