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This topic is about the Insect Order Trichoptera

Some say caddisflies are even more important than mayflies, and they are probably right. The angling world has taken a while to come to terms with this blasphemy. Caddis imitations are close to receiving their fare share of time on the end of the tippet, but too many anglers still assume all caddisflies are pretty much the same.

Caddis species actually provide as much incentive to learn their specifics as the mayflies do. There is just as much variety in their emergence and egg-laying behaviors, and as many patterns and techniques are needed to match them. Anglers are hampered only by the relative lack of information about caddisfly behavior and identification. Read more...

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The Discussion

TroutnaboutOctober 29th, 2006, 4:50 pm
Posts: 20Do caddis fall spent on the water after egg laying or mating? What do they look like,where in the river do they fall?
TroutnutOctober 29th, 2006, 5:06 pm
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2737
Some do. It depends on their egg-laying behavior. Also, even the species which do fall spent usually won't do it every time you see them egg-laying or mating; unlike mayflies, many caddisflies can go at it again a few times.

The species which dive underwater to lay their eggs are probably less likely to fall spent, although I've read that they can make multiple dives, so maybe they can expire in the air, too.

Sorry I don't have a really definitive answer to your question. I also don't have a picture of one that's actually spent, but they spread out their wings kind of like a mayfly spinner and I have a live one in a similar pose to give you a bit of an idea:

http://www.troutnut.com/fullsize/picture-im_regspec/2650

Hope this helps. :)
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
TroutnaboutOctober 29th, 2006, 8:16 pm
Posts: 20Thanks Jason it does help.i always thought spent flies would be mayflies.

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