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Top Rated Product
Ian's Crunchy Caddis
This fly is an Ian Colin James pattern that has built a reputation over the years as one of the best emerging caddis patterns around. If you don't believe us, read the reviews below. This is one of the most highly reviewed and well-liked fly patterns in our collection of flies. These flies seem to work on just about anything short of saltwater flyfishing. Color, Natural. Flies available in sizes: 10, 12, 14.
Average Customer Rating:
Rating Snapshot (33 reviews)
5 stars
31
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
1
32 of 33(97%)reviewers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Review 1 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
Super Quality,
April 18, 2013
By: WarmSunshine
from Liberty Lake, WA
"I am very happy with this purchase, the quality is fantastic and I can't wait to throw this fly!"
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Review 2 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
It Works,
April 3, 2012
By: tookie
from Downingtown Pa
"This fly in a #14 has really produced
in my local river which has good hatches of caddis. I have been using this fly on the bottom with or without split shot. Have some of these in your box you will use it often."
in my local river which has good hatches of caddis. I have been using this fly on the bottom with or without split shot. Have some of these in your box you will use it often."
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Review 3 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
shipping,
May 16, 2011
By: hunterwhantstofish
from Oak Harbor. Wa
"i ordered this item 0n Feb. 1 and now I is on its 3rd shipping delay. Over 4.5 months to ship. I called orvis on may 5 when it was to ship for the 2nd time and they said its on its way. Next day I get one more delay notice. Same thing last year but different item. I would think twice if you want this fly for fishing this year."
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 4 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
great nymph,
March 24, 2011
By: sniperfreak
from Ransom, PA
Good Value:
5
/
5
Meets Expectations:
5
/
5
Features:
5
/
5
Appearance:
5
/
5
"I tie these in unweighted, weighted and with a tungsten beadhead. These are one of the best cased caddis larva imitations I've ever fished. Excellent for all the Grannoms on my local streams."
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Review 5 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
Best for pan fish too,
October 19, 2010
By: STBflyer
Good Value:
4
/
5
Meets Expectations:
5
/
5
Features:
5
/
5
Appearance:
5
/
5
"I decided to test it in the local lake. Suddenly I caught more than 10 panfishes in a hour!! Unbelieve it!!"
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 6 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
This is one brilliant fly!,
June 13, 2009
By: CCCricket
Good Value:
5
/
5
Meets Expectations:
5
/
5
Features:
5
/
5
Appearance:
5
/
5
"I have some of Ian's original Crunchy Caddis flies from the 1980's, they still catch fish. For over 20 years the Crunchy Caddis has been my go-to fly for steelhead, brown trout, smallmouth bass, and carp. It has worked for me all across Canada and much of the US. It works for me, it'll work for you."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 7 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
Versatility rules!,
February 3, 2009
By: Muskrat
from Oakville, ON
Good Value:
5
/
5
Meets Expectations:
5
/
5
Features:
5
/
5
Appearance:
5
/
5
"These can be fished like nymphs, or like muddlers, or even on the surface at times. And while I primarily fish them for trout, many of my friends have caught bass and carp with them as well! Oh yeah, the picture looks funny 'cause the ones Colin gave me have the hooks pinched down."
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Review 8 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
One of my top 10 go to flies.,
September 23, 2008
By: matokuwapi
Reviewer Images
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"This pattern is always in my fly box. I especially like it for early season Browns, but it works anywhere at almost any time."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 9 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
A must have Fly,
June 16, 2008
By: McGoo
from Vancouver, B.C.
"I picked up a dozen of these in all three sizes based on the other reviews I had seen on the website. On the annual May fishing derby just north of Kamloops, B.C. the ice had only been off for about a week and the weather was a little iffy. Nothing seemed to be working so I decided to try a size 10 Crunchy Caddis on the edge of a drop off in the lake we were on.
As promised, the fishing improved in a matter of about 10 minutes and I managed to land three 2lb rainbows in the next hour. My buddy was begging "to borrow" one which I (painfully slowly) agreed to and he had almost the same result. Over a thee hour period we landed 11 similar sized rainbows and one 3lb Dolly.
The other two boats in our group only managed four fish that morning combined - this fly really works and I'd recommend you try it for yourself."
As promised, the fishing improved in a matter of about 10 minutes and I managed to land three 2lb rainbows in the next hour. My buddy was begging "to borrow" one which I (painfully slowly) agreed to and he had almost the same result. Over a thee hour period we landed 11 similar sized rainbows and one 3lb Dolly.
The other two boats in our group only managed four fish that morning combined - this fly really works and I'd recommend you try it for yourself."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 10 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
HEY ITS GOOD,
June 1, 2008
By: UncleJohn
from London On
"Knowing I am an essentially frugal (read cheap) person, Ian gave me this fly to try on my favorite pond. After about 25 or so trout I took it off because I didnt want to lose it. I still have it tucked away in a corner to be brought out for emergency use. All hype aside, if you get a chance to pick up any of Ians patterns, grab them!"
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Review 11 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
Best caddis EVER!!,
May 20, 2008
By: WildFly
from Toronto, Ontario
"This Caddis fly has been one of the most productive patterns I have ever used. I am surprised at the price as I would have thought an Ian James fly to be more expensive... One of the best trout flies I have ever come across.."
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Review 12 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
good choice,
May 12, 2008
By: cougar
"I read all the reviews before purchasing Ian's Crunchy Caddis, and they perform as advertised."
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Review 13 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
Use this fly,
March 10, 2008
By: NBflyer
"It works in rivers and in lakes. I've been fishing this pattern for 17 years and it's caught 100s of fish for me. Smallies, browns, brookies, steelhead and carp with this fly. Ian's Crunchy Caddis is always the first fly out of my box when I get to the river. Even when the fish are taking mayflies from the surface, this bad-boy will still produce some rod busting hits. It's the perfect fly for sight-fishing for spooky carp. My biggest smallie, over 23-inches from the Thames River in Ontario, was caught on this pattern. I was not happy because I was targeting some fine looking carp at the time."
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Review 14 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
Multi-Species Mania,
March 1, 2008
By: Noodler
"This fly is deadly for browns, smallmouth and carp. I have also caught redhorse and tons of panfish on this pattern. On my home rivers, you just tumble it along the bottom with the current. If nothing picks it up. you'll usually get something on the "lift" at the end of the drift.
I've even greased it to use as a quieter surface bug when my poppers were spooking the smallmouth."
I've even greased it to use as a quieter surface bug when my poppers were spooking the smallmouth."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 15 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
Productive Pattern!,
February 17, 2008
By: Anonymous
"I've had many opportunities to fish with Ian James, and this pattern is one that we've used several times when others weren't working.
For me personally, it's caught smallmouth bass, brown trout, chub, specks, and even a catfish!
Tip: Fish it tight to the bottom. Which likely accounts for the catfish."
For me personally, it's caught smallmouth bass, brown trout, chub, specks, and even a catfish!
Tip: Fish it tight to the bottom. Which likely accounts for the catfish."
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Review 16 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
This Fly is Awesome,
February 14, 2008
By: OzarkTroutfitter
"On the White River in Arkansas, we use caddis flies all the time. This one is a secret weapon that has finally been let out the bag. I've fished this fly for years with great success.
Don't be caught out there without a dozen of these in each size in your fly box. As a guide myself, I think that It's one of the best caddis imitations that exists.
Get some of these and you'll agree."
Get some of these and you'll agree."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 17 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
Great Multi Species Fly,
February 1, 2008
By: BlueWingedOlive
"I have fished with Ian James for 15 years now, and this is one of the original patterns he gave me for brown trout on a local tailwater. It worked particularly well when the fish were inactive, and we saved it for those days when the fishing was tough. One day I went after some carp in a slow pool and the results were unreal. I have since made this my staple fly for smallies, as they suck it up off the bottom on almost every cast. I was surprised to see this fly in this catalog, along with the BrassAss and Smack'em Spey, as Ian generally guards his patterns fiercely (he is a full time guide who is expected to get his clients into fish, no matter how bad the conditions). Fish the fly tight to the bottom and go slow, and be prepared to spend time removing all kinds of other species, such as perch, bullheads, suckers, etc. as they will all take it!"
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 18 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
Ian's Big Crunch,
February 1, 2008
By: JohnT1
"Put it this way, this fly's name really suits it. I have used this fly in tandem with the Brass A$ while Czech nymphing and I could barely keep up with all the strikes. The fish really seem to key in on this fly while I was fishing it on the river. Again, Ian puts his heart in all his creations, and the proof is definitely in the pudding on this one! Pick up a few of these guys, you won't be sorry."
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Review 19 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
Deadly Crunchy Caddis,
January 31, 2008
By: Brush
"I've had the pleasure of taking a number of fly tying courses with Ian James, the originator of Ian's Crunchy Caddis. Ian uses many of the traditional materials which make for such a rich history of flyfishing. Ian's Crunchy Caddis is one of those types of patterns. I have had marvellous afternoons swinging the fly down favourite runs and through pools on Southern Ontario rivers nailing smallmouth bass and carp. I also use the Crunchy Caddis when caddis are active under the surface as the weather warms and the trout begin to turn on to delicious looking morsels. This is a valued go to fly in my box throughout the year."
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Review 20 for Ian's Crunchy Caddis
Overall Rating:
Ian's Crunchy Caddis,
January 29, 2008
By: SteveB
"This is an excellent fly for river and stream use. I've used it for several years and have caught resident Rainbow, Steehead and Brown's and Smallmouth Bass regularly. It works best fished deep as a nymph just off bottom. A must for your fly box - I also recommend Ian James' Brass As! Buzzer, Muncher Nymph and Puke flies as flies you should never be without."
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