Hatch Guide · Caddisfly (Limnephilidae)

October Caddis

The October Caddis is one of the largest caddisflies — a size 6–10 orange-bodied insect that emerges on Western rivers from September through November.

Peak months: SeptemberOctoberNovember

Top fly patterns

1
October Caddis (Octoberfly)
Size 6-10 · dry
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Month-by-month activity

Number of rivers where the October Caddis hatch is active each month.

Jan
—
Feb
—
Mar
—
Apr
—
May
—
Jun ●
—
Jul
—
Aug
—
Sep
19 rivers
Oct
30 rivers
Nov
—
Dec
—

Rivers where October Caddis hatches

Farmington River
Connecticut Active: Oct
Trout Management Area below Riverton — catch-and-release artificial-only year-round. Lower river sto…
Deerfield River
Massachusetts Active: Oct
Cold tailwater below Fife Brook Dam (Florida, MA) plus the Mohawk Trail water. Dam releases drive fl…
Westfield River
Massachusetts Active: Sep, Oct
Wild trout freestone river in the Berkshires. West Branch holds native brookies in upper reaches. St…
Ausable River
New York Active: Sep, Oct
Classic Adirondack freestone river with wild brookies in upper reaches and browns and rainbows in th…
Gallatin River
Montana Active: Sep, Oct
Classic freestone river paralleling Highway 191 through the canyon south of Bozeman. Wild fish in th…
Madison River
Montana Active: Sep, Oct
One of Montana's legendary Blue Ribbon rivers. PMD, caddis, and salmonfly hatches make June and July…
Missouri River
Montana Active: Oct
World-class tailwater below Holter Dam near Craig. Midge and BWO hatches year-round; PMD and trico d…
Blackfoot River
Montana Active: Sep, Oct
Immortalized by Norman Maclean's A River Runs Through It. Recovered wild fishery with strong stonefl…
Big Hole River
Montana Active: Sep, Oct
One of the last wild arctic grayling rivers in the lower 48. Blue Ribbon trout water with massive sa…
Yellowstone River
Montana Active: Sep, Oct
The longest free-flowing river in the lower 48. Paradise Valley section near Livingston is prime Blu…
Bitterroot River
Montana Active: Sep, Oct
Scenic freestone river in the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula. Good caddis and PMD hatches. Nati…
Clark Fork River
Montana Active: Sep, Oct
Recovering river through Missoula and western Montana. Bull trout present — handle with care. Good c…
Snake River
Wyoming Active: Sep, Oct
Pure wild Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout in a spectacular Teton backdrop. Float-fishing th…
North Platte River
Wyoming Active: Oct
The famous Miracle Mile below Seminoe Reservoir — cold tailwater holding large rainbows and browns. …
South Platte River
Colorado Active: Oct
Gold Medal water through Cheesman Canyon and the Dream Stream above Eleven Mile Reservoir. Highly te…
Fryingpan River
Colorado Active: Oct
World-class Gold Medal tailwater below Ruedi Reservoir near Basalt. Massive midge and PMD hatches. M…
Arkansas River
Colorado Active: Sep, Oct
Gold Medal freestone river through the Arkansas Valley. Good caddis and PMD hatches. Wade fishing be…
Roaring Fork River
Colorado Active: Sep, Oct
Gold Medal freestone and tailwater water through Aspen and down to Glenwood Springs. Strong PMD, cad…
Blue River
Colorado Active: Oct
Gold Medal tailwater below Dillon Reservoir in Silverthorne. Heavily fished but holds large fish. Mi…
Cache la Poudre River
Colorado Active: Sep, Oct
Colorado's only federally designated Wild and Scenic River. Freestone character through Poudre Canyo…
South Fork Boise River
Idaho Active: Oct
Cold tailwater below Anderson Ranch Dam. Strong midge and PMD hatches. Bull trout present — handle c…
Salmon River
Idaho Active: Sep, Oct
The River of No Return — a wilderness canyon river through central Idaho. Wild steelhead and chinook…
Deschutes River
Oregon Active: Sep, Oct
Oregon's crown jewel. Wild redsides and summer steelhead in a dramatic canyon. Salmonfly hatch in la…
Rogue River
Oregon Active: Sep, Oct
Wild and Scenic River with famous steelhead and salmon runs. Spring Chinook and summer steelhead att…
McKenzie River
Oregon Active: Sep, Oct
Home of the McKenzie River drift boat design. Gin-clear spring-fed water with wild rainbows. Skwala …
Metolius River
Oregon Active: Sep, Oct
Spring-fed river emerging fully formed from the base of Black Butte. Catch-and-release artificial on…
Yakima River
Washington Active: Sep, Oct
Washington's premier trout river — Blue Ribbon water through the canyon below Cle Elum. Skwala hatch…
Green River
Utah Active: Oct
World-class tailwater below Flaming Gorge Dam. Sections A, B, and C offer different water types. Pro…
Provo River
Utah Active: Oct
Gold Medal tailwater from Jordanelle Reservoir through Provo Canyon. Midge and BWO year-round; PMD a…
San Juan River
New Mexico Active: Oct
Year-round Gold Medal tailwater with consistent flows below Navajo Dam. The Texas Hole no-kill stret…

How to fish the October Caddis

An October Caddis dry fished with a skitter or slight drag. Also effective: swinging a soft-hackle wet fly through tailouts at dusk.

Frequently asked

When does the October Caddis hatch?

Peak emergence: September, October, November. Timing varies by elevation, latitude, and water temperature.

What flies match the October Caddis hatch?

Top patterns: October Caddis (Octoberfly) (size 6-10).

What rivers have a good October Caddis hatch?

October Caddis hatches are documented on 30 rivers including: Farmington River, Deerfield River, Westfield River, Ausable River, Gallatin River and 25 more.

How do I fish the October Caddis hatch?

An October Caddis dry fished with a skitter or slight drag. Also effective: swinging a soft-hackle wet fly through tailouts at dusk.

What is the October Caddis?

The October Caddis is one of the largest caddisflies — a size 6–10 orange-bodied insect that emerges on Western rivers from September through November. Family: Caddisfly (Limnephilidae).

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