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 Technical Micro-Pupa – J:son Caddis Pupa 4 Green (#18) The J:son Caddis Pupa 4 in Green is a masterpiece of micro-engineering, tied on a size #18 hook. This diminutive pattern is designed for the most challenging fishing scenarios, where trout and grayling are selectively feeding on small, green-bodied caddis species. Its vibrant green hue acts as a pinpoint trigger, mimicking the natural translucency and color of tiny Rhyacophila and other micro-caddis during their ascent.
Understanding the difficulty of fishing such small flies, we have ensured that the hook eye remains easy to thread, even on this #18 profile. Featuring J:son’s signature anatomical design, this pupa has a perfectly curved, segmented body that provides a lifelike silhouette despite its small size. This Green Pupa is an essential choice for low-water conditions, technical spring creeks, or when the hatch consists of the smallest aquatic insects.