Overview

The Jiggy Caddis Pupa is Mike Mercer's update of Gary LaFontaine's Deep Sparkle Pupa, a pattern Mercer calls a confidence fly for Western rivers.

Caddis pupae drift and swim near the bottom before they rise to hatch, and trout feed on them heavily. Mercer ties this deep caddis pattern with a slotted tungsten bead on a sharp Tiemco jig hook and adds materials that move, so it gets to the bottom fast, rides point up and looks alive. It fishes well on a Euro rig or under an indicator.

Euro Specs

• Bead: Tungsten, slotted.
• Hook: Tiemco jig hook, barbless.
• Role: Both; anchor fly in 14, upper or dropper fly in 16.

How to Fish It

• Euro nymphing: fish it on the point through riffles and runs before and during caddis hatches.
• Lift at the end: let the rig rise at the end of the drift, like a pupa swimming to the surface.
• Indicator rig: pair it with a soft hackle or emerger above.
• Season: spring through fall, whenever caddis are active.

Choosing Color and Size

Mercer says a size 14 Olive is all you need much of the time. Amber covers tan and amber caddis, common in summer and fall. Choose 14 for most hatches and as an anchor fly, and 16 for smaller caddis or clearer water. Olive comes in 14 and 16, Amber in 14.