Michigan Flies

Hatches / caddis

White Miller

A

Nectopsyche spp. (N. albida on the Muskegon)

Also called White Miller Caddis, Nectopsyche.

A pale, almost white caddis of July through September that shows in the afternoon on the northern rivers and swarms at dark on the Muskegon in early fall. It is easy to confuse with the White Fly mayfly in August; the caddis has tent wings and a jerky flight. Fish a #14 white or cream elk-hair caddis or a pale X-caddis at dusk, and a cream pupa swung through the tail-outs just before dark. The Rifle River shops list white millers among the summer hatches.

#12–16afternoondusknightpupaadultwhite to cream bodywhite wing with fine dark specklingpale larva in a long thin case

Brighton Lee · CC0 · iNaturalist · · 2022

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
    Jun 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
    Jun 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
    Jul 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
    Jul 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
    Jul 22 – Oct 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
White Miller Caddis
A
Dry fly#12–16Cream-white

Nectopsyche, the White Miller, hatches July 1 to September 30 on northern charts and at dark in #14 on the Muskegon from mid July through October. Fish a cream #12 to #16 caddis in the afternoon and again after dark on warm summer nights.

Dry fly

Reserve · $3.00