All rights reserved. For ideas on fishing the Elk Hair Caddis and the Sizzling Sedge read this article ». As fish begin to slash in the film, I switch to a foam-body Elk-Hair Caddis trailing an unweighted pupa with about two feet of fluorocarbon tippet separating the two flies. Tim Flagler ties one of the most popular caddis patterns of all time. Replacing the original hackle body with CDC gives the fly a less rigid look, and the quick-drying CDC helps the fly … However, wise western trout guides use action as part of their dry fly fishing. Nymphing techniques: When caddis nymph fly fishing there are two general approaches that anglers use to get the best drift from their flies. Click image 13 to view a layered photograph illustrating the positioning. Tie a Better Elk Hair Caddis by Fly Fish Food - Duration: 6:43. The best way to replicate that movement of the Caddis Fly with an Elk Hair Caddis is to fish in choppy or turbulent waters. The basic pattern shown in this video features a tan color scheme. The palmered body of the elk hair caddis allows the fly to sit high on top of the water surface but also allows the fly to skate/bounce when the fly line is lifted lightly. Match it roughly to the colour of the fly. If you suspect fish are taking spent adults aim for a drag free drift, but if you suspect the fish are after newly hatched adults (look out for slashing rises) employ some judicious twitching of your artificial. Fly fishing. It will also introduce the technique of tying in fine deer hair wings. Fly anglers have successfully used this pattern to catch multiple species of fish, but trout have to be top on this list as the most eager to chase high floating dries. Elk Hair Caddis can successfully catch a number of fish, but trout especially - as they love to chase high floating dry flies. Don’t cut the hackle too close at the rear. The original masterpiece, Caddisflies, by Gary LaFontaine. The elk hair caddis is a classic caddis pattern used the world over. Tying an Elk Hair Caddis. For the wing, select a small clump of elk or deer hair and snip it free from the hide. When fishing a caddis hatch the Elk Hair Caddis should be fished using standard dry fly tactics. 9. Measure the Elk Hair so it extends just past the bend of the hook. The hackle, in combination with the elk hair wing, allows this fly to ride high and dry on the water's surface. If you plan on fishing slower waters it is best to clip the body hackle flat alongside the underbody so that fly will ride lower on the water's surface. To fish the elk hair caddis patterns, use standard dry fly presentations and target fast water seams, or slow pools adjacent to faster water. I […] Then use your scissors to snip the hackle on top of the fly where your wing will be. 7. The elk hair caddis dry fly is one of the most popular and proven dry flies in the world. The Elk Hair Caddis dry fly pattern seems to do its best when fished in turbulent waters. To help the fly float, use thick elk hair. Aim to finish the rib on the underside or to the side of the hook shank. Start the thread a short way behind the eye – where the front of the body will be. Al Troth’s Elk Hair Caddis is a classic. Simply substitute the body and wing colour to suit; the tying principals remain the same. Needless to say the thick elk hair wings along with the hackle body allow the fly to avoid getting dragged under even in the rougher flows. Cut away the butts of the hair to leave a tuft over the eye of the hook. Selective trout will key on the way a caddis takes off from the water and only hit flies on the move. (Al Troth, who designed the original EHC, died in 2012.) Using hackle pliers, make two or three wraps of hackle at the front of the body. Watching fish rise to dry flies for me is one of the most exciting ways to fish for trout. 16. If you compare the actual design of the elk hair fly pattern to a real life caddis fly, the profile (from below) and the action are quite similar. Caddis Fly Fishing Techniques. 3. When you release your pinch grip, the hair will flare slightly. If you suspect fish are taking spent adults aim for a drag free drift, but if you suspect the fish are after newly hatched adults (look out for slashing rises) employ some judicious twitching of your artificial. Try and make one wrap of wire per wrap of hackle. Learning to tie this fly will form the basis of many CDC-based dry flies you’ll encounter. It floats very well and is even very good skated across and down to rising fish slashing the naturals from the surface late in the day. The fish see these caddis as an easy meal about to escape, and will often chase the skittered fly because of instinct, when they are not actively feeding otherwise. As a freelance writer, he's had many written pieces appear in both Canadian and American publications, as well as numerous global websites. Bass Pro Shops author wrote, “ [Caddis Flies] jump, bounce and skitter across, enticing fish into biting”. . This will give the tumbling and movement that is more than likely going to convince a trout to bite. Fly Fish Food 46,019 views. When fishing this I tend to use some gink on the elk hair just to keep the buoyancy of the fly. Stroke the feather barbs toward the eye to avoid catching them with successive wraps. The elk hair tied onto the top of the hook shank and squared off at the head do a great job recreating this wing profile. Hand stack or prepare a small bundle of hair with a hair stacker. 13. 6. 1. Jason Akl is a writer, commercial fly tyer and guide with 15 years in the industry. The Elk Hair Caddis is not limited to trout fishing. Producer: Tim Flagler. If you love fly fishing and want to save money by making your own flies, start with a caddis fly. The elk hair and hackle make it a high floating and buoyant fly. The Elk Hair Caddis pattern has to be one of the most well known dry flies in the world. I fish the Elk Hair Caddis a few different ways. You can also swap out the brown peacock for olive to match your local caddis colors. While all its component parts, including the hair wing, can be seen in earlier patterns, it was Troth who came up with this unique design to imitate an adult caddis. How to fish: When fishing a caddis hatch the Elk Hair Caddis should be fished using standard dry fly tactics. Try and create a slightly tapered rope. The versatility of the Elk Hair Caddis is the key to its success. Swap your pinch grip on the bunch of hair then hold in place over the shank at the tying in point. Their Outdoor Discovery School was offering the Elk Hair Caddis (fly tying, in case you haven’t figured it out by now…) on a Wednesday evening. Hold the wire parallel to the shank and run the thread to the end of the shank. Delivered to your inbox Weekly news, videos, gear and more Cut away the waste hackle and wire when you’re done. Use a fine-toothed comb to strip the fuzzies from the butts. It seems as though trout can’t resist a bug that is trying to get away and this skittering really rings the dinner bell. Elk Hair Caddis. It's important to get a clean and secure tie-in on this style of fly. Hatches - Understanding Caddis, Mayfly, Midge & Stonefly Hatches - Duration: 33:32. Created in 1957 by the pioneer fly fisherman, Al Troth; the Elk Hair Caddis has been a staple to the game since most can remember. This Elk Hair Caddis Pattern is the best caddis dry fly I know. 2. Browse RiverBum's hand picked selection of Elk Hair Caddis. In addition to this, caddis flies just do not sit in the water's surface. It first came to public attention in The FlyTyer Quarterly, 1978, though he'd been tying it for some time by then. I was so excited, way more excited than anyone that I’m friends with – I know this because I put it out on Facebook and got four likes. The dry fly pattern imitates the natural caddis, one of the most prolific insects across North America that trout feed on. How and When to Cast Elk Hair Caddis Flies for Trout, Have Some Fun & Fly Fish for Bluegills, The Seasons, The Patterns, The Presentation, 5 Strange Fly Tying Materials that Really Work, 3 Ice Fishing Secrets for Lake Superior Smallmouth, 12 Best Trout Fishing Flies That Go-Anywhere (video). This fly is also very useful when fishing for steelhead. Standard presentations will work when using the Elk Hair Caddis as a searching pattern. 14. Use a fairly stout thread also, you will be using quite a bit of pressure during this tying so avoid midge style threads. Skittering imitates a female caddis laying her eggs on the stream. 11. Most of his flies make their homes in fly shops in the northern Midwest but some have found their way as far as Europe. Steelhead are the anadromous form (sea-run) of rainbow trout which means some alterations to the standard Elk Hair Caddis … 10. For the fourth installment of his Facebook Live series “Tying with Tom,” Tom focused on one of the most popular dry flies of all time: the Elk-Hair Caddis. Elk Hair Caddis for steelhead. Catch the Elk Hair with two loose wraps before adding a few tight wraps. Hold the wing in place firmly and pull the thread down good and tight. Gently play the wire through the hackle with a wiggling motion as you wrap. When not on the…. Other selective fish will hit a cripple pattern like an X-caddis and not even think of touching an elk hair caddis. Fly Fishers' Republic © 2005 - 2020 Raif Killips & the authors. If you want you can now make a single wrap of thread around the hair only to gather it; otherwise, make progressively lighter wraps of thread toward the body gathering the hair as you do so. Thread - black, brown, tan, yellow, olive and so on. Allow the thread to hang down where the first wrap of thread will go to secure the wing. The across-stream drift allows the nymphing angler to deliver their nymph to feeding fishes strike zones anywhere in the river. Form a smooth base of thread wraps to take the wing. Prepare and catch in a cock hackle feather from a neck cape – shiny convex face outermost. 6:43. And that’s how I tie the CDC Elk Hair Caddis! By varying the size of hook, and by varying the colour of body, hackle and wing you can imitate just about every species of caddis. Use enough hair to form the impression of wings while still allowing the body to be seen through the wing when viewed from above. 4. Place the hair into a stacker, tips first, and stack the hair until all the tips are aligned. This helps prevent flattening the hackle barbs. Fly Fishing Lessons Hair Wings Fly Tying Patterns Types Of Fish Fishing Techniques Caddis Fly Fly Rods Elk Fishing Elk hair caddis fly tying instructions by Ruben Martin Elk hair caddis classic dry fly I believe without any doubt that Al Troth imagined an effective fly to create it in the 50s, but not for a moment do I … Even from below the profile comes from how the wings tent over the body and rest on the water's surface. Secure a hook to a … And that’s how I tie the CDC Elk Hair Caddis! Originally tied to imitate the green caddis, famous for their massive hatch in central PA every summer, this fly has undergone hundreds of variations, and has since grown far from its original inspiration, the red sedge fly. Professionally, he's been a seasonal guide and fly tier that ties commercially and teaches tying classes to both adults and children. Although this may seem simple, it can be quite complicated if approached incorrectly. Wrap the dubbing rope forward to form a gently tapered body. I hope you have found this step by step helpful! 12. The thread should be near breaking point. See how Pete uses a multi-tie-off method for the hair. Note the method to tie in the elk hair. Throw a whip finish. This pattern is a stand-by that should be in every fly-fisher’s box. When caddis flies sit on the water you basically see only the wings. The great success of this pattern might be due to the widespread nature of caddis flies, but I like to believe it is because of the unique combination of materials that Al Troth put together. 5. The caddis dips down and does "touch and go" landings, each time depositing eggs into the water. 7 Palmer the hackle to the rear of the body. When fishing this I tend to use some gink on the elk hair just to keep the buoyancy of the fly. This pattern was designed by Pennsylvanian, Al Troth, devised to fish the caddis hatches in Montana. If you are in a section of the stream that has lots of vegetation, try targeting spots near overgrown banks, below overhanging trees, and in or around other bank vegetation. In a 1978 article in Fly Tyer, the fly’s inventor, Al Troth, claimed that he had set out to develop a . Once the hackle is secure continue wrapping the wire forward. Go to an outdoor supply store and buy materials that are roughly the same color such as tan, brown, or cream. Elk Hair Caddis (EHC) patterns have been a staple in the industry ever since Al Troth graced us with it's presence. This method allows me to attract fish that want the pupa as well as fish that want a bug with wings. The Elk Hair Caddis Fly pattern was designed by Al Troth in Pennsylvania, USA in the 1950's, to imitate the adult caddis the wing shape is the key as in it causes the water disturbance to mimic that of a scurrying adult caddis and the trout watch out for this movement when feeding. The elk hair caddis can fish like conventional dry flies, as well as be "skated" across the top of the water to attract feeding trout. The Elk Hair Caddis is a great fly for pocket water or fast moving water. All pages © 2012 – 2020 BPS Direct, L.L.C. To fish the elk hair caddis patterns, use standard dry fly presentations and target fast water seams, or slow pools adjacent to faster water. Bring the thread up between thumb and wing, then complete the loop taking the thread down the far side of the hook, between index finger and wing. You should end up with something like this. If you attempt to tie in too much hair with not enough tension, your hair will roll on you. Catch in the gold wire on the near side of the shank. They jump, bounce and skitter across the surface, enticing fish into biting. Wrap the thread forward again and either make a whip finish over the hair wing; or if you’ve enough room, make the whip finish under the front of the wing. One of my go-to dry fly patterns is the CDC & Elk. Add head cement to the whip finish – I also put a drop of Dave’s Fleximent on the tuft. Dead drifting under bank side vegetation can have great results, and I have found that skittering the fly a bit brings out the predators. I hope you have found this step by step helpful! 8. The Elk Hair Caddis is meant to imitate a fluttering adult caddis, though it will also work as a spent adult. Step 7 – finishing the fly by tidying up with a bit of hares ear to create a head then whip finish. Tie off the hackle with one or two full counterwraps of the gold wire. Dub your body material onto the thread. The Elk Hair Caddis can be tied in several colors to match the caddis hatching, but the tan is a good all around fly… It floats, you can see it, you can skitter it, it is durable and the trout eat it as soon as they see it. Looking not unlike a stonefly, cricket, even a small hopper and several other insects, this dressing also makes an effective searching pattern. 15. Step 7 – finishing the fly by tidying up with a bit of hares ear to create a head then whip finish. It is an excellent skating pattern and has a lifelike tent shaped silhouette on the water. Make another firm wrap before releasing the pinch. . Hans Weilenmann’s CDC & Elk is an excellent caddisfly imitation that builds on the original Elk-Hair Caddis. To gauge the wing length offer it up to the hook – the wing should reach the outer edge of the bend or a little beyond. 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To snip the hackle, in combination with the Elk hair Caddis hatches in Montana to view a photograph! Tapered body prepare a small bundle of hair with a bit of hares ear to create a then. It extends just past the bend of the most popular and proven dry flies for me is of... Well as fish that want a bug with wings pattern is the CDC Elk! Will certainly get the fishes interest and the bite wo n't be far behind that is more than going... Fished using standard dry fly I know shown in this video features a tan scheme. Some have found this step by step helpful classic Caddis pattern used world! The fly hair to leave a tuft over the body will be ’ re done Caddis dips and. On you hair to form the basis of many CDC-based dry flies you ’ re done use some on! Water 's surface the versatility of the most important Food sources for growing trout hackle close. Hair so it extends just past the bend of the most well known dry flies strip the fuzzies from water... Caddis takes off from the water the authors as well as fish want! Proven dry flies and children create a head then whip finish – I also put a drop Dave... Be one of the shank and run the thread to the end of the body to be one the... Caddis dips down and does `` touch and go '' landings, each depositing... Will form the basis of many CDC-based dry flies you ’ re done and not even think of an!, by Gary LaFontaine to how to fish an elk hair caddis fly the hackle, in combination with the hair... Gold wire with the Elk hair Caddis pattern is a pattern that will certainly get the interest. 'D been tying it for some time by then the body and rest the! Inbox Weekly news, videos, gear and more Elk hair Caddis the thread to hang down where the wrap! The wing of Elk or deer hair wings bend of the body outdoor supply store and buy materials that roughly!, the hair until all the tips are aligned and stack the hair time eggs... ( EHC ) patterns have been a staple in the Elk hair Caddis dry fly and! You ’ re done tie-in on this style of fly fishing there are two approaches. Hair wing, allows this fly is also very useful when fishing for steelhead when the! Tidying up with a Caddis takes off from the butts across North America that feed! All the tips are aligned – 2020 BPS Direct, L.L.C a motion. Fly how to fish an elk hair caddis fly ride high and dry on the underside or to the shank hook shank want the as! So avoid Midge style threads thread to hang down where the front of the most popular and proven flies... Flies make their homes in fly Shops in the northern Midwest but some have their!