Elk Hair Caddis – Summer Model Ideas

The Elk Hair Caddis is one of the most commonly used dry flies for trout fishing. This pattern was developed in 1957 by Pennsylvania fly tyer Al Troth. He is considered one of the pioneers of fly fishing. The Elk Hair Caddis is a very attractive fly and attracts trout by imitating the elk’s wing and body patterns.

elk hair caddis pattern

The Elk Hair Caddis is one of the most popular dry fly patterns for trout fishing. It was designed in 1957 by Pennsylvania fly tyer Al Troth. Troth is considered a fly fishing pioneer for developing this pattern. His creation has been the foundation of many other fly patterns for trout fishing.


The Elk Hair Caddis pattern is incredibly versatile. It can be fished in a variety of environments, including fast-moving seams and slow pools adjacent to faster-moving water. It can also be fished in overgrown banks with overhanging trees and other vegetation.

During the tying process, you should align the butts with the eye of the hook. Once the butts are aligned, you can pull the elk hair up and expose the hook eye. You should then tie in two or three loose collecting wraps behind the eye. The final step is to cut the ends of the butts free.

The Elk Hair Caddis is a very popular dry fly pattern for trout in much of the US. These flies hatch in a number and offer big meals to trout of all sizes. You can fish this fly on a dry-fly rig or on a dry-dropper rig.

elk Hair caddis body

The Elk Hair Caddis is one of the most well known and versatile dry flies. This caddis has a palmered body, which allows it to sit high above the water’s surface. This body style is effective for mimicking terrestrials, mayflies and stoneflies.

This pattern is ideal for dry fishing in mountain streams and is one of the most popular in the Sierra. Designed in 1957 by fly fisherman Al Troth, the Elk Hair Caddis quickly caught on as a dry fly. The Elk Hair Caddis can be tied on most standard dry fly hooks, including the TMC100sp-bl, because of its barbless point, heavy wire, and extra wide gape.

An Elk Hair Caddis is closely related to two venerable caddis patterns. The Little Red Sedge, tied by G.E.M. Skues, is another pattern that resembles the Elk Hair Caddis. However, the bucktail Caddis is a classic and originated in the Pacific Northwest. The Elk Hair Caddis body is made of wool, while the wing and tail are tied from bucktail. It also has a dry fly hackle collar.

The Elk Hair Caddis is one of the oldest dry flies in fly fishing, and it is still one of the most popular patterns today. The Elk Hair Caddis was originally created in 1957 by Pennsylvania fly tier Al Troth. The hair wing of the Little Red Sedge Fly and the palmer wing of a Palmer flies inspired Troth to design the Elk Hair Caddis. He also incorporated various elements of Skues’ flies, creating the unique Elk Hair Caddis.

elk hair caddis wing

When tying a caddis wing, the main thing is to tie it properly. You want to avoid making your fly wacky and too wide. A good rule of thumb is to tie your elk hair caddis wing with the base of the hackle close to the hook shank. Use a #16 hackle fiber with feather fibers that match the hook gape size. Once you have a solid base, you can start stripping off a piece of the elk hair hackle. You should be able to see a small ring at the back of the elk hair wing, and this tip should be small enough that it is not noticeable when the wing is wrapped.

After tying in the wing, trim the butts to equal the length of the hook. This part of the wing represents the head of the fly. Some tiers prefer to trim the wing before securing it to the shank. Regardless of which method you choose, you will want to tie the wing securely to the hook.

You can tie in a sparse clump of elk hair tips by using a hair stacker. The tips should be positioned to match the bend of the hook. You can then use additional wraps to secure the wing to the hook. You should also trim the elk hair butts to match the hook eye. Finally, you can apply head cement to the thread head and the underside of the wing tie to make it stay in place.

elk hair caddis hook point

Elk hair is one of the most popular materials for tying flies, and this variation is a great choice for small streams. It is great for fish that live in slow-moving riffles and runs, and sits deeper in the surface film than a normal caddis. It is most effective from June through October.

This hook point is commonly used to tie dry flies. The proportions of a dry fly are more critical than those of a nymph, and the length of the body should be about one-third of the gap width. You can also make the fly look larger than it is by using a large hackle. Caddis, for example, have six legs, so this extra-large hackle will give your fly the appearance of legs.

If you want to tie elk hair caddis flies, be sure to start with a solid level thread base to keep the elk hair from spinning on the hook shank. Next, tie a hackle fiber with the same gape size as your hook. Make sure to tie the feather tip side at the back, with the concave facing away. This will ensure that the feathers face backward when wrapped.

elk hair caddis rig

Elk hair caddis are great nymphs to fish with dry-dropper rigs because they ride on top of the water film. When using a caddis rig, you need to be sure that the hackle fibers at the bottom are clipped close to the hook. Many fly tying instructions will show you how to tie patterns using the bottom hackles left on, but this is a bad idea and will cause you to miss fish. You should also make sure that the elk hair wings are as thick as the hook gape.

Choosing the right fly is important. You should match the fly with the water temperature and time of year. In the springtime, a small adult midge tied to an emergent baetis nymph may be appropriate. During fall and winter, an Elk Hair Caddis is the most effective pattern to use. If you are using a rig in cold waters, you may want to use a flashier pattern that will attract more trout.

The Elk Hair Caddis is also a good choice for fishing on fast-moving waters. You can use it as a top fly in a dry dropper rig, dead drift through a run, or skitter across the surface. It can also be used as a substitute for stoneflies. The Elk Hair Caddis is an imitation fly that works well in the water even when the hatch isn’t actively occurring.

elk hair caddis fly

The Elk Hair Caddis fly is one of the most popular dry flies for trout fishing. It was designed in 1957 by Pennsylvania fly tyer Al Troth, a pioneer in fly fishing. Troth is credited with the design and creation of many popular trout flies, including the elk hair caddis.

To tie this fly, use a good tying thread base, a single sided hackle, and dubbing rope. Finish with a whip finish. The elk hair wing should not extend beyond the hook’s gape. It should also be tied with a reversed taper to avoid flaring.

The Elk Hair Caddis is an excellent imitation of a Caddis Fly, a common food source for many species of fish. It mimics the movement and flight of an adult caddis and is most effective when used on turbulent waters. Choppy water will create a tumbling motion which will help entice a fish to bite.

The Elk Hair Caddis is one of the easiest and most effective dry flies for trout. This versatile pattern is a favorite among fly fishermen because it is not difficult to tie, even for beginners. This fly will mimic both an adult Caddis fly and a Stonefly and can be fished on many different types of water.

fishing with elk hair caddis

Fishing with Elk Hair Caddis patterns is a great way to catch fish during the hatching and falling seasons. These flies have palmered bodies that sit high above the surface of the water. They can be fished with a standard dry fly presentation, or with a dropper rig.

Several ways to tie an Elk Hair Caddis pattern are available. One way is to use it as a wing by tying it on to a hook. A good way to do this is to stack the elk hair around the hook eye, and wrap it in tight or loose wraps. Once tied, the wing should have the same trajectory as the hook eye.

Elk Hair Caddis patterns are available in many sizes. Whether you’re fishing in a small stream or a riffle, this pattern can help you catch more fish. These custom tied patterns have been proven to attract fish to the surface. They also work well in slow moving streams.

The Elk Hair Caddis is one of the most versatile dry flies for trout. It’s not hard to tie, and it’s incredibly effective. It mimics a Stonefly or Caddis Fly, but it’s incredibly versatile and will catch fish no matter where you’re fishing.