Elk Hair Caddis

Fly Fisherman - February 10, 2012

Step 1

Start the thread about two eye lengths back from the eye and make a thread base back to the bend. Return the thread to the starting point and tie in a piece of fine copper wire. Wrap back over the wire to the bend.

Step 2

Dub a tapered body from the bend to the starting point.

Step 3

Tie in a rooster neck hackle feather by its butt at the front edge of the dubbed body.

Step 4

Spiral wrap the feather back over the body with six or seven turn to the bend.

Step 5

Catch the tip of the hackle feather with the wire and continue wrapping the wire forward through the hackle to the starting point. Trim the excess wire and the tip of the hackle feather.

Step 6

Cut, clean and stack a clump of elk hair. Measure it against the hook so it is a shank length long. Clip the butt ends where they line up with the hook eye.

Step 7

Lay the cut clump of hair on top of the hook with the butt ends just behind the eye. Make two tight turns of thread over the hair and cinch them down by pulling toward you with the thread.

Step 8

Build a small band of tight thread wraps to anchor the wing in place. Whip finish and clip the thread on top of the thread band.

Elk Hair Caddis

Recipe: Hook: TMC 100SP-BL or 100 Thread: Tan 6/0 Rib: Fine Copper Wire Body: Superfine Dubbing, color of choice Hackle: Brown Rooster Neck hackle Wing: Natural Bull Elk Hair