ID, please

[scooper47]

Does anyone know what this is? I assume the larva of some aquatic insect. I usually get a dozen or two on and in my minnow trap when I set it out. I bet a fly fisherman will know.

And while I'm at it, has anyone else had a hard time catching minnows this spring? I haven't gotten any.

[bart]

Caddis

[Steve H.]

Cased caddis.  There's a little green worm in there.  Trout candy.

[scooper47]

Can the trout get at it with that casing, or do they swallow it whole?

[scooper47]

Can the trout get at it with that casing, or do they swallow it whole?

Whole. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caddisfly

[bogtrotter]

I know I'm a late comer to the party - - but I'll also chime in with my two cents - - I think it's a caddis too.

I usually find them stuck to submerged rocks in the streams I fish.  I think the bug assembles the casing from spit, dirt and plant material.

I recall that, when I was a youngster, someone recommended using caddis pupaes (or whatever stage they're in when they're in the casing) as bait, but I never thought it was too practical - - they were too soft and small to properly hook.

[zwiggles]

Cased caddis.  There's a little green worm in there.  Trout CRACK*

There fixed it for you.... what I need is to figure out how to get some for ice fishing....

I’ve also “caught” quite a few of those on my nymphs fly fishing on a tiny little stream. I will fully admit to turning them into bait, and they seem to produce first cast every time.

[stripernut]

Trout LOVE Caddis... They use whatever is handy to make their "Case". When I was a kid a Jeweler friend put one in a tank with bits of gold and it made a case out of the gold... A Mop fly is a great trout fly that looks like a Caddis.

[scooper47]

Trout LOVE Caddis... They use whatever is handy to make their "Case". When I was a kid a Jeweler friend put one in a tank with bits of gold and it made a case out of the gold... A Mop fly is a great trout fly that looks like a Caddis.

That Wikipedia article says that there is an artist who specializes in that gold trick.

[lowaccord66]

Yup definitely a cased caddis.