Spotted Sedge Pupa

The Spotted Sedge is a net spinning caddisfly which hatches late in the afternoon or evening all season long in the West. It is indeed, the most common caddisfly found in the West and may be the most important caddisfly in existence. It may only be rivaled by its sister caddisfly the Cinnamon Sedges of the East. Together the Cinnamon Sedges and the Spotted Sedges comprise about 70% of the total caddisfly population.

They are important because of the length of the hatch time and because of their giant populations. At times, the Western streams appear to be covered with the Spotted Sedges.

The egg laying activity usually does not occur until after sunset or when it is almost dark. Indeed it is possible to fish with the Spotted Sedge imitation well after some other hatches have stopped.

During the hatch, the Spotted Sedge are consumed by the trout as they drift in the current for a relatively long time before reaching the surface and emerge as adults. When it is the time of year for the hatch to occur, the larvae will seal themselves in their shelters where they will proceed to spin a cocoon used to pupate. It takes about two or three weeks for them to form the pupa. When the actually hatch begins, the pupa will chew a hole in the cocoon and proceed to swim to the surface to hatch. As the pupa drift in the moderate speed current attempting to reach the surface, they are helpless and are the most vulnerable to be eaten by the trout. Also, as they are emerging from their pupa shuck in the surface skim they are very vulnerable as well.

The emerging process usually starts late in the afternoons and continues until well into the night. While this emerging is progressing, the adult females from the previous hatches will start their egg laying.