7-9, 7-10, 7-11, & 7-12-13 Caddis Hockey

Big Thompson (Below Estes)
The T is fishing great right now in the evenings ( I haven't been any other time of the day recently) and it is more than worth checking out. There is an amazing caddis hatch happening when the sun goes behind the hills and from there on the fishing just gets better as the daylight starts to fade away. Try throwing some Elk Hair Caddis in tan and if you have to substitute color or caddis pattern, just make sure you sure are in the same size range; that being a size 16. I have noticed that they just weren't as interested in the next size larger.

Try skating those caddis on the surface for more consistent action. Not to say that a dead drift won't do it, but it is not as effective (or fun I think). To skate, just get that fly moving across the surface however need be. Actually make it 'skate'. You can achieve this in a dap kind of technique on your shorter approaches or just strip in a similar manner as a streamer.

The one difference you will notice in the strip technique as opposed to stripping a streamer is the lack of weight. That weight really helps you get that slack out of the line. So I like to throw my line straight out (perpendicular to the current) and then either start stripping then or wait until it runs down down the river a little and then swings across. Once it starts swinging, keep your rod tip high and let the current do the rest. You can even steer it if you want.

I have noticed that on a straight strip technique, there are a few things you can do to make the technique easier. First, right when you cast, throw an upstream mend, and quickly. After that, lift the rod butt up to your upper chest area as you start to point that rod tip at the fly. Look at your rod tip almost as if you are looking down the barrel of a shotgun. And then follow it just like that too. Strip that line and try different retrieves as well. I almost think the more erratic you make each series of presentations to a hole look, the better off you are as that really does mimic the caddis flying all around.

Well give it a try and hopefully you can put some in the net as well.

Tight Lines