Elk Hair Caddis
Al Troth's Elk Hair Caddis is the most widely fished caddis dry fly in the world. The clipped deer-hair head and elk-hair wing produce a realistic tent-wing profile that rides high even in heavy water. It's deadly when caddis are egg-laying on the surface — skitter it, twitch it, or dead-drift it. In larger sizes it doubles as a grasshopper or stonefly attractor.
- Type
- dry fly (Caddis)
- Hook sizes
- #12–18
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall
Materials
- hook: Dry fly hook #12–18
- thread: Tan or olive 6/0
- body: Dubbed hare's ear or Antron to match hatch (olive, tan, brown)
- ribbing: Fine gold wire
- hackle: Brown or ginger palmered down body, trimmed on bottom
- wing: Elk hair or deer hair, laid flat over body
Tying steps
- Mount a size 12–18 dry fly hook; start thread and wrap to bend.
- Dub a body of hare's ear or Antron in the appropriate color (olive, tan, or brown).
- Tie in a palmered hackle at the front of the body and wind it rearward in even spirals to the bend, tie off.
- Wind fine gold wire forward as a counter-wrap to reinforce the hackle.
- Cut a bunch of bull elk hair; stack and align the tips.
- Tie in the elk hair at the head with the tips extending to the bend, forming a tent wing.
- Trim the butts at a 45-degree angle to taper the head.
- Make a few thread wraps over the trimmed butts to form a neat blunt head; whip finish and cement.