Dry fly / Pattern notes

Elk Hair Caddis

A tent-shaped hair wing and hackled body suggest adult caddis on the surface.

From hook to fly

At the vise.

4 steps

Follow this base recipe in order. The materials list specifies one hook size; adjust proportions together when tying another size.

Prepare
Cover the shank with thread. Attach ribbing wire and hackle at the bend.
Make the body
Dub a slender body, stopping short of the eye. Spiral hackle forward; counter-wrap the wire to reinforce it.
Tie the wing
Clean and stack a small elk bunch. Set the tips at the bend; bind the hair above the body with increasing tension.
Finish the head
Trim the butts just ahead of the tie-in. Whip finish under the butts and cement the thread.

Beyond the bench

Drift during caddis activity, then try a slight skate if fish respond to movement. Scale down for small sunfish.

Tied by independent makers

No tyers have listed this pattern yet. Request a custom version, or add your own fly to the library.

Original written instructions adapted from the sources below. Materials and methods may vary between versions.