Beginner's Masterclass

Every fly angler needs a reliable and versatile caddis dry-fly pattern. Anyone who fishes for trout has at least a few of either an Elk-Hair Caddis, X-Caddis, or Iris Caddis—or perhaps all three. The Goddard Caddis, known for its remarkable ability to float through almost anything, is another popular imitation. For the past dozen years, however, my first choice has been the CDC & Elk Caddis.

by Tim Flager For far too many years I believed that fishing streamers during the winter months was basically a fool’s errand. Nearly everything that I was told or read, suggested that trout would only take precisely drifted, subsurface patterns or diminutive midge imitations fished on, or near, the water’s surface. Boy, was I wrong. Yes, trout tend to be more lethargic during the winter months and don’t eat as aggressively.

by Tim Flagler We here in the Eastern United States are fortunate in that we have really good Isonychia hatches. It’s a shame many regions of North America do not. Iso’s, as they’re known for short, are also called Slate Drakes, Mahogany Duns or Leadwing Coachmen. Rarely do Iso’s produce blanket hatches. They, instead, prefer to dribble off in less than significant numbers during the evening and well into dark. The great thing though is this takes place over many months.