Introduction

 The Elk Hair Caddis was developed by Art Flick somewhere in the middle of the last century and has become a favorite all across the country. It is popular on the tailwaters as well as in our mountain streams. This particular pattern that I have tied reflects a short trimmed version on the head as well as the wing. This has proven to be helpful on the tailwaters when tying this pattern in small sizes. Many times I will shorten the legs also to help prevent missed strikes. It is deadly, dead drifted or skated across the water.

 Recipe

Hook: Any good Caddis hook --#12-24
Thread:Unithread-8/0--Tan, brown, Olive or black
Tail: None
Ribbing:Gold Wire
Abdomen: Yellow, Caddis green, or tan  
Thorax: Same
Hackle: Your choice

Step 1

Step 1

Step 2

Step 2

Now tie in gold wire at the hookbend.

Step 3

Step 3

Next, wind Caddis Green superfine dubbing onto the thread.

Step 4

Step 4

.You are now ready to wind the dubbing forward to approximately 2-3 hookeye lengths back of the hookeye. This is very important to leave this space behind the hookeye, otherwise you will crowd the eye of the hook at the final tie off.

Step 5

Step 5

You are ready to tie in a hackle that has been sized and trimmed on the butt end just at the beginning of the body.

Step 6

Step 6

Now wind your hackle back to the end of the body of the fly. Take the thread and wind back through the hackle and do several wraps to secure the hackle at the rear of the body.

Step 7

Step 7

Trim the remaining hackle off at the rear of the fly.

Step 8

Step 8

Wind the thread forward to just behind the hookeye.  Now, take wire with hackle pliers and wind it forward toward the hook eye. 

Stage 9

Step 9

Wind gold wire to the front of the body and tie off.  Trim wire and leave the thread in place.

Step 10

Step 10

Trim a 2 inch long section of elk hair 1/4 inch wide.  Place hair
in stacker to even up the ends.  Remove hair and place on top of the fly until tip ends are even with the hook bend.

Step 11

Step 14

Step 14