Michigan Flies

Hatches / caddis

Tan Caddis

A

Hydropsyche spp. (20+ Michigan species) and Ceratopsyche spp.

Also called Spotted Sedge, Cinnamon Caddis, Hydropsyche, Net-Spinning Caddis.

The all-summer caddis of Michigan rivers, from May through September and heaviest in early-to-mid July, when the Manistee system's caddis abundance peaks an hour or two after sunset. The Trails to Trout chart splits it into Spotted Sedge (#12-16, from May 1) and Cinnamon Caddis (#14-18, from May 20); both are net-spinners that emerge slowly through the film, so a sparkle pupa or soft-hackle swung at dusk is often the best fly. Larvae are available year-round in the riffles and are a steelhead and trout staple. For the egg-laying flights at dark fish a #14-16 tan elk-hair caddis; on the Muskegon the cinnamon caddis (#16) starts mid-May and the tan/olive caddis fishes into August on the Upper Manistee.

#12–18middayafternooneveningdusklarvapupaemergeradulttan to cinnamon bodymottled tan and brown wingolive-tan larva with dark head

Brighton Lee · CC0 · iNaturalist · · 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 – Sep 16
    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 – Sep 20
    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 – Sep 30
    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 – Sep 30
    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 – Oct 21
    Peak
    —

Flies that match

Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear (reference photo)Reference photo
Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear
A
Nymph#8–18NaturalOliveBeadhead

The generalist buggy nymph for Michigan's clinger mayflies and caddis pupae, and MidCurrent lists a #10 to #14 Hare's Ear among winter steelhead nymphs. Dead-drift it under an indicator all season for trout, and as a trailer behind an egg or stonefly for steelhead.

Indicator nymphing · Euro / tight-line nymphing

Reserve · $2.75
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
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
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
Henryville Special (reference photo)Reference photo
Henryville Special
I
Dry fly#14–18Olive body, grizzly palmer, duck-quill wing

A classic down-wing caddis dry with a slimmer silhouette than an Elk Hair, good on flat water for the Grannom and black caddis of May and the Hydropsyche of summer. Dead-drift it in the film, then twitch as egg-laying females skitter in the last hour of light.

Dry fly

Reserve · $3.00