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

1. Mount a size 12–18 dry fly hook; start thread and wrap to bend.
2. Dub a body of hare's ear or Antron in the appropriate color (olive, tan, or brown).
3. Tie in a palmered hackle at the front of the body and wind it rearward in even spirals to the bend, tie off.
4. Wind fine gold wire forward as a counter-wrap to reinforce the hackle.
5. Cut a bunch of bull elk hair; stack and align the tips.
6. Tie in the elk hair at the head with the tips extending to the bend, forming a tent wing.
7. Trim the butts at a 45-degree angle to taper the head.
8. Make a few thread wraps over the trimmed butts to form a neat blunt head; whip finish and cement.