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The great red sedge is the largest caddis or sedge fly that hatches in the British Isles. These are flies of lakes and slow-flowing rivers, and they hatch on summer afternoons and evenings.
The larva makes its case from plant material, which it fashions into a spiral tube. After pupating, the adult emerges and heads for land, where it rests among the stones and low bushes.
A size 12 G&H sedge is a very effective imitation, and is best dragged across the surface just as darkness is descending.
A good place to try is beside a reed bed or other dense emergent vegetation. This tactic often brings to the surface trout that are mainly cannibal, and so a strong leader is recommended.
Anyone interested in aquatic fly life and other freshwater invertebrates - and particularly those who enjoy flyfishing for trout and grayling, Pat O'Reilly's bestselling book Matching the Hatch is an indispensable guide. Author-signed copies are available online here...
Algarve Wildlife - the natural year is an indispensable companion if you intend visiting Portugal. Details...