Got Caddis Larvas?

So a buddy of mine posted a picture here, and asked the question, "What would you tie on"?
With day 3 of fishing, I headed to "The Dream Stream" to check out what was going on.  Caddis larva was going on.  About 30 minutes into being on the water, the flows appeared to be going up.  There was a lot of junk coming down the river.  It came up about 50 CFS, not a big jump, but enough to throw things off.  The first fish came about 10 minutes into the day and guess what it ate?  A caddis larva.  The 2nd came about 15 minutes later and he also ate a green caddis larva.  It was a thick 20" Cuttbow.  After the water came up, the fishing went off for about an hour and a half or so and then it picked up a bit.  With all the junk and off colored water, I went to a pink SJ worm and it got things started again.  A few fish later I was  working a good stretch of water when it happened.  It always happens.  I was high-holed.  About 6 guys came and jumped in front of me.  I sometimes hate fishing in Front Range accessible waters.  But, like a New Yorker complaining about riding the subway or the congestion, we move on.  Soon the notorious South Park winds came howling down the valley and I had enough.   So if you want some action, whip up a few cream and green caddis larvas and go have some fun.  Flow was 168 and went up to 210.

 Green and Cream!

 You can match them with these two flies.  

 More larva.

There is still a lot of snow up there to melt.  

Make the Best of It.

When I thought about fishing the Ark today, I imaged a dark, cloudy day, occasionally spitting snow and about 1:00 or so the BWOs would come off and the fish would rise to them in the clear, low water.  Well  today was not quite what I had imaged.  After a few days of warm weather, some of the lower elevation snow was melting and made it's way to the river.  While it was slowly dropping and clearing, it definitely  was not how I had hoped it would be.  The day started clear and cold.  The wind was blowing as it always does this time of year.  The water was higher and off color and the fishing was a bit harder than usual.   After about an hour of fishing I had a terrible thought.  Could a skunk be coming?  I haven't been skunked since leaving the Rio Grande in New Mexico where on any given day it could happen, but on the Arkansas?  Really? I realized this is possible but not for me.  I have invested way too much time in this passion and since this was not the Rio Grande, I didn't have to worry.  The fish would come.  Soon the first fish and second fish were found in a usual spot and on a usual fly, the cream caddis larva.  With the weather hot and cold, snow and bright sunshine, the fishing was still slow.   I kept telling myself to throw on a woolly bugger, as I love to fish them in this type of water and in these conditions.  When I did, it was pretty intense.  Follows right to the rod tip and then they were gone.  I knew I would see lots of fish this way and also assumed I could hook up with 1 out of 4 or 5 follows and I did.  The rest of the day was spent this way all the while I was waiting for the BWOs to start emerging.  I saw about a handful and that was it.  The sun would come out after a few minutes and the bugs would disappear along with the clouds.  I didn't see a single rise all day long and after a good day on the water and some testing of new patterns, I called it a day and headed home.  Some days, no matter how bad, are just plain better than sitting in front of a computer at work.    

Love the old cars in the canyon.  Do they ever move them?

First fish on the bugger.

Lots of these in the water.  

Pretty little things.  

Although I see these the most, I still throw a cream colored one and they eat it.  Hmm, I wonder if they would eat an olive one????

About a size 14

There were only a few of these out today.  I didn't see a single rise today.  

Caddis are out, but not many.

Testing out a new hopper pattern.  It floated well but it needs to be tweaked a bit before summer.

This is a cool pattern that I want to use more on this river.  It's a Jeremy's Arizona Prince.

I eventually hooked up with a few of these.

 Currently my favorite fly on the Ark. My cream caddis larva.