Michigan Flies

Hatches / caddis

Little Sister Sedge

A

Cheumatopsyche spp. (C. speciosa, C. campyla, C. analis and others in Michigan)

Also called Green Caddis, Little Sister Caddis, Cheumatopsyche, Tiny Green Caddis.

The smaller, lighter-winged sibling of the Hydropsyche tan caddis, sitting lower in the watershed and running from May into midsummer on the northern rivers and, in its tiny #18-20 form, from mid-July through October on the Muskegon. Adults emerge and lay eggs in the afternoon and at dusk; trout feed heavily on the spent egg-layers at dark, so a green-bodied X-caddis or a spent partridge caddis fished in the film is the evening fly. The bright green larva is available all year and is a Michigan steelhead staple. Fish a #16-18 green caddis larva or a soft-hackle in the riffles by day.

#10–20afternooneveningdusklarvapupaemergeradultgreen to olive bodytan to light brown wingbright green larva

© Ramsey Sullivan · CC BY · iNaturalist · Hubbard Lake, MI · 2025

Timing by region

  1. Southeast Lower Peninsula
    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D
    Window
    Apr 17 – Jul 17
    Peak
    —
  2. Southwest Lower Peninsula
    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D
    Window
    Apr 21 – Jul 21
    Peak
    —
  3. Northeast Lower Peninsula
    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D
    Window
    May 1 – Jul 31
    Peak
    —
  4. Northwest Lower Peninsula
    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D
    Window
    May 1 – Jul 31
    Peak
    —
  5. Upper Peninsula
    1. J
    2. F
    3. M
    4. A
    5. M
    6. J
    7. J
    8. A
    9. S
    10. O
    11. N
    12. D
    Window
    May 22 – Aug 21
    Peak
    —

Flies that match

Elk Hair Caddis (reference photo)Reference photo
Elk Hair Caddis
I
Dry fly#10–20TanOliveBlack+2

The all-purpose adult caddis for Michigan's May through October caddis season, which Houghton's Manistee work shows peaking in early to mid July with flight heaviest an hour or two after sunset. Carry tan #14 to #16 for Hydropsyche, black #16 to #20 for the spring black caddis, and #8 to #10 orange for October Caddis. Skitter it at dusk when egg-layers are on the water.

Dry fly

Reserve · $3.00
Green Caddis Larva (reference photo)Reference photo
Green Caddis Larva
A
Larva / pupa#6–16GreenChartreuseOlive+3

A Michigan steelhead staple: the green Rhyacophila larva is 'effective on the Muskegon River for steelhead' and Current Works lists caddis #6 to #12 among its top five, bright green or chartreuse for stained water and olive or cream naturals for low clear flows. Betts names green caddis larvae with Hex nymphs and eggs on the Pere Marquette flies-only water. Fish it as the trailer behind an egg or stonefly, year-round.

Indicator nymphing · Chuck and duck · Euro / tight-line nymphing

Reserve · $2.75
X-Caddis
I
Emerger#14–20BlackOliveTan

A trailing-shuck caddis that sits low in the film, matching Troutnut's advice that Chimarra and Grannom need low-floating emergers because they emerge slowly through the surface. Fish black #16 to #20 midday during the late April to June Little Black Caddis, and tan or olive through summer evenings.

Dry fly

Reserve · $3.00
PM Caddis
A
Larva / pupa#8–12GreenChartreuse

A Pere Marquette caddis larva named by Current Works among its Michigan steelhead caddis (with the Disco Caddis and Boogie Woogie Caddis). Fish it in tandem behind an egg on the PM's flies-only water from fall through the spring spawn.

Indicator nymphing · Chuck and duck

Reserve · $2.75
Spotted Sedge Pupa (Hydropsyche) (reference photo)Reference photo
Spotted Sedge Pupa (Hydropsyche)
A
Emerger#12–18Tan-cinnamonOlive

Hydropsyche and Cheumatopsyche net-spinners are the season-long caddis from May through September on every Michigan river, and the Muskegon is 'world renowned' for them. Pupal wing pads darken a day before emergence; swing a tan or olive pupa on the rise toward dusk, or hang it under an Elk Hair. St. Marys Atlantics feed on caddis pupae from mid July.

Indicator nymphing · Dry fly · Euro / tight-line nymphing

Reserve · $3.00
Spent Caddis (Quad-Wing)
A
Dry fly#14–20TanBlackOlive

Muskegon trout feed heavily on spent 'quad-wing' egg-layers at dusk, and the same happens on the Au Sable and Manistee when female caddis die on the water after ovipositing. Fish a flush-floating spent pattern on 6X in the foam lines in the last light from May through September.

Dry fly

Reserve · $3.00
Soft-Hackle Wet Fly (reference photo)Reference photo
Soft-Hackle Wet Fly
A
Wet fly#8–16Partridge and orangePartridge and greenHare's ear soft hackle

Perfect Fly lists wet flies among St. Marys Atlantic salmon patterns, and Atlantics feed on caddis and midges from mid July through August. A swung soft hackle covers emerging caddis pupae and Sulphurs on any Michigan river; swing it down and across in riffles at dusk, or hang it below a dry.

Swinging flies (spey / switch) · Dry fly · Indicator nymphing

Reserve · $2.75