Wild Water Caddis Flies
Wild Water carries five caddis fly patterns that cover the surface, film, and subsurface situations you'll run into on a US trout stream. Packs start at $11.10 for six flies, pre-tied and ready to fish straight out of the package. If you're stocking a box from scratch, the 36-fly assortment at $39.50 covers all three fishing scenarios and includes a fly box at no extra charge.
- Caddis Fly Assortment, 36 Flies with Fly Box: The Caddis Fly Assortment is the best starting point for anglers who don't yet know which pattern their water requires. $39.50 gets you 36 flies covering both surface and subsurface fishing, plus a fly box included at no extra charge.
- Tan Elk Hair Caddis, Size 14: One of the most widely fished caddis dry flies in the country, and it earns that reputation for floating well and producing fish across a wide range of hatch conditions. Six flies for $11.50, tied with an elk hair wing that floats naturally on the surface and rides high in fast water. Size 14 matches the most common caddis hatches on most US trout streams.
- Goddard Natural Caddis, Size 12: Clipped deer hair body that sits high on the water even in fast runs and rough current. Six flies for $11.50, 30% off the original price. Size 12 is the better pick for larger hatches or bigger water where trout are feeding aggressively.
- Electric Caddis, Size 16 Olive: Fishes just below the surface and imitates a caddis pupa rising through the water column. Six flies for $12.00. Olive matches the green rock worm found in trout streams across the US.
- Elkwing Caddis, Size 16 Black: Six flies for $11.10, the lowest-priced pack in the collection and 31% off the original price.
Which Caddis Pattern Is Right for Your Water?
Trout feed on caddis at every life stage, from larvae on the streambed to adults at the surface. Pick your pattern based on what stage is happening when you're on the water.
You See Fish Rising to the Surface
When trout break the surface and feed actively, they're taking adult caddis. A dry fly is a pattern tied to float on top of the water and imitate an adult insect. The Tan Elk Hair Caddis handles most daytime situations, with tan and brown tones that match what you'll encounter most often. The Goddard Natural Caddis is the better call on faster or rougher water. Its clipped deer hair body rides higher and stays visible in choppy current.
Fish Are Active But Not Rising
If the water looks alive but you're not seeing surface feeding, trout are probably taking caddis just below the surface during the emerger stage. This is when a caddis pupa climbs toward the surface right before it hatches, and trout line up to intercept it. An emerger pattern, also called a wet fly, imitates that motion just under the water film. Fish the Electric Caddis in Olive on a dead drift, meaning you let it float naturally with the current without any drag, just under the surface. You'll pick up takes that a dry fly would never reach.
Evening Fishing or Low-Light Conditions
The Elkwing Caddis in Black is a strong choice in low-light conditions and during evening feeding sessions when darker patterns draw more attention. A slim, dark wing profile shows up clearly against a fading sky and matches the silhouette of species that feed at dusk. If you fish evenings regularly, keep a few of these in your box.
You're Not Sure What to Expect
If you’re heading to unfamiliar water or new to fly fishing altogether, the Caddis Fly Assortment is for you. Thirty-six flies, a mix of surface and subsurface patterns, and a fly box to keep them organized. You'll have the right fly on hand whether the fish are rising or not.
Why Wild Water Caddis Flies Are Worth It
Individual flies at a fly shop typically run $2 to $3 each. Wild Water caddis flies come in at $1.85 to $2.00 per fly across the six-packs. At $1 or more saved per fly, that price difference adds up fast across a full season of fishing.
The assortment makes the math even clearer. Thirty-six flies plus a fly box for $39.50. Buy three individual six-packs from this same collection and you'll spend $33 to $36, and still have no box to put them in. The assortment bundles the fly box in at no extra charge and gives you more pattern variety at the same price point.
Still deciding which pattern fits your water? Wild Water has been helping beginners get on the water since 2006. Call us at 585-967-3474 and we'll point you to the right pattern fast.