Description
When it’s time to get serious about catching trout and grayling, you need a fly that imitates the most important part of the caddis fly life cycle: the pupa. This stage is the final, crucial step before the caddis fly emerges as a winged adult, and it’s a phase that often drives fish into a feeding frenzy.
The caddis pupa imitation mimics the insect as it rises from the riverbed to the water's surface. It is an active, wriggling meal, and fish often key in on these helpless, buoyant insects while ignoring everything else.
The Dual-Fly Technique: Pupae rise through the entire water column before hatching. To maximize your chances, try the "Anchor fly" technique by using a heavier pupa or emerger to get your cast down to the right depth, followed by a lighter imitation. This versatile pattern can be fished as a dropper under a dry fly, dead-drifted with a strike indicator, or swung across the current to imitate the rising motion of the natural insect. It is a universal pattern that works in almost any river where caddis are present.
The High-Visibility Trigger – J:son Caddis Pupa 1 Yellow (#10) The J:son Caddis Pupa 1 in Yellow is a large-profile imitation designed to match the most substantial caddis species, including the legendary Great Red Sedge (Phryganea grandis). Tied on a size #10 hook, this pattern’s vibrant yellow hue perfectly mimics the bright, high-contrast underside and body often seen in large pupae during their active ascent to the surface.
Crafted with J:son’s hallmark anatomical precision, the fly features a beautifully segmented body and a realistic translucency that captures light underwater just like the gas bubbles on a natural pupa. This size #10 yellow pattern is a fantastic choice for dawn or dusk fishing, or in slightly colored water, where its visibility makes it an easy target for trophy fish. Use it as your "anchor fly" in a dual-fly rig to attract attention and trigger aggressive strikes during the peak of the caddis season.