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Whilst the mayfly tends to get all the limelight as the largest up wing fly, one of the major flies in our rivers and lakes is the caddis fly. The caddis is a truly amazing creature. Many varieties surround themselves with a protective case constructed out of small pieces of stone, sand and debris or whatever else they can find on the river bed. They glue the small pieces together with a strong silk, forming a little stony sleeping bag which they can crawl around in whilst they feed. When conditions are agreeable the hatching pupa leaves the sanctuary of it’s case and begins a perilous ascent skywards. The adult fly emerges through the surface film and takes off.
The emerging caddis is represented by one of the most famous fly patterns in modern fishing called the Klinkhammer, invented by Dutch angler Hans Van Klinken. This fly is fantastic for catching trout and grayling through out the streams and rivers of the Peaks. The Kinkhammer can bring fish to the surface even when they are not rising and is a effective fly for searching rougher water for obliging fish.
Through Autumn and Winter fishing, the subsurface caddis patterns that imitate the larvae will be very effective for the grayling.