Fly Profile: The Hudson Caddis

Fly Profile: The Hudson Caddis

Actual spring arrives after numerous weeks of false spring, fooling us to believe “Hey, it’s going to be warm now.” Eventually, the lies stop and consistent, sunny weather arrives, and for trout bums, the first hatches of the year emerge (real hatches–midges don’t count unless you live on a lifeless, Colorado tailwater).

Blue Wing Olives pop out and open for the mayflies, and the Mother’s Day Caddis appear on countless streams across the country as the spring season’s first “moth-y” aquatic bug hatch. Anglers look forward to the Mother’s Day caddis (MDC) as a change of pace from tying flies all winter, or from thousand-mile-staring at a bobber-indicator-abomination-thing for those who, even when it’s cold, can’t stay off the river.

There are numerous MDC patterns on the market, and many work fine as usable imitations; however, the serious fly fisher, “fine” isn’t good enough; the serious angler, the one who falls asleep dreaming of rising trout and chases hatches across watersheds like Sheriff Buford T. Justice pursues beer runners across the southwest. They require durable, well constructed fly patterns engineered to premier qualities. 

The Hudson Caddis, created by Blue Line’s co-founder and CEO Adam Hudson, is an optimal choice for a springtime MDC fly pattern. Tied on a strong, sturdy hook with full-synthetic dubbing and wings, this pattern stands up to long-term use on the water and can withstand numerous trout eats before showing signs of wear. It comes in sizes 14 and 16 (perfect for MDC hatches) and in three colors: tan and dark brown, which match the natural tones of a caddis, and black (ideal for stained water or low-light conditions). The orange streak on top of the wing is designed to be lifted vertically and act as a parachute, which makes it easy to track while floating, and the wing underneath can be spliced out to the sides for a wide attention-catching profile; the wings can remain flat for variable presentations and appearances.

Versatile, skilled anglers need versatile, durable patterns for all situations, so the next time you chase a Mother’s Day Caddis hatch, grab a handful of Hudson Caddis patterns found on Blue Line’s website. A serious caddis pattern tied for serious fly fishers.

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