Here is the fly pattern sheet for the Elk Hair Caddis.
Materials
Hook:
TMC 100, Daiichi 1182 or standard dry fly hook #8 – 18
Thread:
Black, brown, orange, or olive 6/0 or 8/0
Rib:
Fine gold wire
Body:
Green, olive, tan, or orange dubbing or peacock
Hackle:
Brown, grizzly of dun
Wing:
Elk or deer hair
Directions:
- Start thread on hook immediately behind hook eye and advance to barb.
- Tie in gold wire at the barb of hook.
- Dub body from back to front, creating a taper. Stop 2 eye lengths back from eye.
- Tie in hackle where body stopped and wrap back to barb using 5 – 6 evenly spaced wraps.
- Hold hackle and using wire, wrap forward in 5 – 6 evenly spaced wraps and tie off at end of body. Wiggle wire while wrapping forward to prevent catching hackle barbs. Trim wire and hackle.
- Prepare elk hair, stack and measure proper amount for wing. Tie in elk hair where body stopped. Using pinch wrap, take 2 soft wraps, then pull straight down to tighten thread around hair and hook. Continue to wrap another 5 tight wraps. Pull hair ends upright and wrap thread through ends (2 or 3 times) to strengthen and keep hair in place. DO NOT CUT HAIR ENDS
- Form head and using hair ends, pull upright and whip finish behind hook eye. Trim thread.
- Trim hair ends at same angle as hook eye, leaving some hair to look like insect head.
Note:
- I like to select hackle which is one size smaller for each hook size…size 16 hackle for size 14 fly.
- I trim hackle on bottom of fly even with hook point, allowing the fly to always land right side up, not on it’s side.
- For added visibility, add chartreuse EP Fibers on top of the elk hair. Other colors and materials may be used as a substitute for EP Fibers.
