everything, but generally 12, 14, 16 and 18. Using a hair stacker, align the hair tips. Photo shows Danville 6/0. $5.99 / $23.99 Hook Size. It is a high floating, easy to tie version of Al Troth's Elk Hair caddis. Links to Free Old Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Books. I might not be able to see the fly in the dark, but the trout certainly can. Fish them this season, and you will become a believer in the wonders of opal tinsel. Clean it, stack it, and cull out the short hairs if necessary. Having a selection of elk hair caddis available in a variety of sizes … The fl y tends to be small and the finer deer hair makes a more corklike head. Hold hackle and using wire, wrap forward in 5 – 6 evenly spaced wraps and tie off at end of body. Stop 2 eye lengths back from eye. Elk Hair Caddis Hook: Standard dry-fly hook, sizes 10-18. The Elk Hair Caddis is considered a searching type pattern as it resembles the general form of adult caddisflies or small stoneflies. Our Price: $1.95 . Share your knowledge of this product. You can’t accomplish this using standard tying thread of any size; sizes 8/0 (70 denier) and 6/0 (140 denier) are not strong enough to adequately flare the hair, and size 3/0 (210 denier) is too thick and adds bulk. It can be deadly. I use deer hair for the wings. Wing: Bull-elk hair. Body: Green, olive, tan, or orange dubbing or peacock. During my trips to Whitetail Fly Tying Supplies in Toledo, Ohio, I dig through a pile of deer skins to find the perfect hair. The Opal & Elk Caddis is another killer caddisfly imitation tied with an opal tinsel body. Hook: Standard dry fly hook sizes #12-#20 (I'm using a size #16) Thread: Tan Uni thread 8/0 Legs: Brown dry fly hackle palmered over the body. Rib: Fine gold tinsel. Hook: Photo shows size 14 Tiemco 100. Hair with longer and wispier tips is less hollow. ... Make about three wraps and then gently stroke the butt ends of the hair up, above the hook shank. The Elk Hair Caddis is not limited to trout fishing. Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest fly tying patterns, stories and videos in your inbox. Hackle: Dry fly hackle wrapped over the body. THREAD: olive. Body: Green caddis dry fly dubbing. Hackle: Brown, grizzly, or dun. Place your hook in your vise. Wing: Woodchuck (WC) underfur. Your email address will not be published. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you don’t have the opportunity to look at a whole deer skin, be sure to tell your supplier what you are looking for, but whenever you can, check it out firsthand at your local fly shop. Using pinch wrap, take 2 soft wraps, then pull straight down to tighten thread around hair and hook. Good! Form head and using hair ends, pull upright and whip finish behind hook eye. Start your thread. This will help keep the hair clump on top of the hook and prevent it from rotating. I like to select hackle which is one size smaller for each hook size…size 16 hackle for size 14 fly. Add to cart. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Our Price: $1.95 . During the summer, when we are fortunate enough to have overlapping hatches of Tricos and PMDs, I tie up a rig with an Opal & Elk and an Opal X-Caddis spaced two to three feet apart. When the morning and early afternoon hatches and spinner falls are over, and we slip into the angling doldrums under the high sun, I cast about with the two-fly rig and catch nice trout all afternoon. Start thread on hook immediately behind hook eye and advance to barb. Elk Hair Caddis quantity. Elk Hair Caddis (Olive, Tan, Black, Brown) Size# 10-18 (Olive, Tan) Size# 14-20 (Black) Size# 12-18 (Brown) SOLD PER DOZEN. Remember that the fish have wonderful night vision and can see the fly silhouetted against the evening sky. Hook: Regular dry fly hook, your choice of sizes. HACKLE: ginger. The hackle diameter on the typical Elk-Hair Caddis is far too large. Clear. Elk-Hair Caddis Hook: Wide-gap dry-fly hook (here, a Daiichi 1100), sizes 10-18. Hook: Daiichi 1170 Traditional Dry Fly Hook, Size: 16. Body Hackle: Brown. Thread: Brown, 8/0 or 6/0. Because the hook is relatively small, it's important to get the hook shank properly aligned with … Our Price: $1.95 . Cut a small section of elk hair and clean out any underfur with a comb or bodkin. Caddis are a staple food for trout and are available many months per year. Hackle/Legs/Head: Clump of elk or deer hair, butts tied down behind the eye and clipped to form the head. Body: Bare thread or thin dubbing. Hackle: Brown Rooster Neck Wing: Elk Hair, Cow or Bull Thread: Color and size to suite. Elk hair is hollow and floats very well. Does it look like too much hair for the fly? Olive Elk Hair Caddis Tying Instructions: Materials: (to Order Material, click the link) Hook: TMC 100 or TMC 100sp-bl #12-18 Thread: Veevus Light Olive 12/0 Hackle: Light Dun, Palmered Wing: Natural Bull Elk Hair Body: Olive Haretron Dubbing Rib: Extra Small Gold Wire Actual Caddis : Notes: This is probably one of the most popular dry flies used in the Sierra. Hook: TMC 100 or Dai Riki 305, size 8 – 18. The versatility of the Elk Hair Caddis is the key to its success. They come in brown, black, olive, green, yellow, and tan. Wing: Elk or fine deer hair. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I seek out the smaller hides, but few skins, even from small deer, have the perfect hair that averages less that one inch long, has very short dark tips, and is hollow. Remove the hair from the stacker and, with the tips facing rearward, tie in the hair on top of the hook shank with a couple of soft loops in front of the dubbed body. The twitch works. Wing: Elk or … Wire: UTC Ultra Wire, Color: Copper. Hook Size: 20, 18, 16, 14, 12. Fly of the Month 01.11 Elk Hair Caddis Hook: Dry Fly, standard length, Tiemco 100 or equivalent, Size: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 Thread: 8/0 Uni or equivalent to match color Body: Dry dubbing Wing: Elk Hair, natural Ribbing: Fine Gold Wire Hackle: Dry Rooster in color to match Directions: Although it's not essential, a rotary vise works very well for this pattern. Body: Hareline Strung Peacock Herl. Our Price: $1.95 . Note that the EHC can imitate any caddis species by changing the size and color. Our Price: $1.95 . Reviews There are no reviews yet. This wire is going to be used to rib the body of the fly. The caddis hatches year round with seasonal peaks producing flies in massive numbers. I'm going to tie this elk hair caddis on a size 16 Dai-Riki #305 dry fly hook. Tie up a bunch of these wonderful caddisflies. When using this double-fly system on the Au Sable and other streams where there is plenty of cover such as logs, sweepers, and overhanging trees, it is important to put the Opal & Elk Caddis on the very end of your leader. Elk Hair Caddis. *. Other colors and materials may be used as a substitute for EP Fibers. Rib: Extra Fine Copper Wire. Although the heart of these flies is opal tinsel, we need to look at two other crucial components: the thread and the hair. Hook: Partridge SLD #12-#14 Thread: Black Body: Very dark chocolate dubbing Rib: undersized black hackle Wing: Dark mottled deer hair Head: Trimmed hair butts. Elk Hair Caddis $ 27.00. Materials needed: Hook: Standard length shank dry fly hook.Size #10-18. Wing: Elk hair. Thread: Brown or tan, 6/0 or 140-denier. Hook Size: Qty: Features Related Items: Elk Hair Caddis, Tan/Olive Elk Hair Caddis, Gray Tan/Dark Olive Elk Hair Caddis, Dun Elk Hair Caddis, Brown Our Price: $1.95 . As shown in the accompanying photographs, both flies have very distinct flared heads. floats well in rough water. Materials. ELK HAIR CADDIS HOOK: dry, size 14. Cut about one and a halftimes the hair from the skin that you normally would. Here is the fly pattern sheet for the Elk Hair Caddis. Hook Size: Qty: Features Related Items: Elk Hair Caddis, Yellow Elk Hair Caddis, Tan/Olive Elk Hair Caddis, Light ... Flat Wing, Yellow Elk Hair Caddis, Gray Tan/Dark Olive Elk Hair Caddis, Tan/Kelly Green Flat Wing, Tan/Olive Our Price: $1.95 . Your email address will … Most tyers today omit the rib and use a tan rabbit dubbing for the body. Having a selection of elk hair caddis available in a variety of sizes … This does not change the effectiveness of the pattern in my experience. Our Price: $1.95 . Thread: Black, brown, orange or olive 6/0 or 8/0. It is an excellent skating pattern and has a lifelike tent shaped silhouette on the water. Dub body from back to front, creating a taper. Steelhead are the anadromous form (sea-run) of rainbow trout which means some alterations to the standard Elk Hair Caddis are necessary. I trim hackle on bottom of fly even with hook point, allowing the fly to always land right side up, not on it’s side. Continue to wrap another 5 tight wraps. Reviews. Note: Supported video sources include YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Thread: Brown, 8/0 or 6/0. The hackle tips should be no longer than 1½ times the hook gap; a little smaller is even better. Tie in hackle where body stopped and wrap back to barb using 5 – 6 evenly spaced wraps. The legs should be a medium grade hackle (non webby, but not dry-fly either).The body could be either vernille, furry foam, coarse bodied dubbing, sparkle braid, or four strand floss. Body: Pearl opal tinsel. When I do find this hair, it is usually located just above the white belly hair in front of the hind legs. Dennis travels across the Upper Midwest giving fl y-tying demonstrations that receive rave reviews. Like many tiers, this one substitutes deer hair for less-common elk. Hook: Regular dry fly hook, sizes 16 to 12. Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Hook: #10-22 TMC 100 SPBL. RIB: gold wire, counterwrapped. It’s a wonderful feeling to have other anglers shouting to you, pleading for advice. This pattern is another of those you should not be without. Dennis Potter lives in Michigan. Green, olive, tan, or orange dubbing or peacock, Your email address will not be published. Invented somewhere west of here by Al Troth, the elk hair caddis has over the years proved to be an un-paralleled fish catcher. Pull hair ends upright and wrap thread through ends (2 or 3 times) to strengthen and keep hair in place. Pack Size. Fly Color: Olive, Tan, Yellow. This fly is also very useful when fishing for steelhead. The hook size should vary from size 6-10. Body: Superfine Dubbing, Color of Choice. This fabulous hair used to be called Ultra Select Elk for good reason: It was superb and often in limited supply. With the addition of the opal tinsel body, the fish have a glowing beacon to home in on. The elk hair caddis is a good floating caddis pattern that always ranks in the top ten list of ‘must have’ flies for any fly box. Wing: Elk hair. Trim hair ends at same angle as hook eye, leaving some hair to look like insect head. Wiggle wire while wrapping forward to prevent catching hackle barbs. For added visibility, add chartreuse EP Fibers on top of the elk hair. Hackle: Dry-fly hackle, your choice of color. Thread: Brown Veevus 14/0. The Opal & Elk Caddis is one of my favorite dry flies while searching for trout during dark rainy days or even after dark. Body: Antron dubbing. Elk Hair Caddis Pattern Recipe Hook: Standard dry fly hook, size 8-22 Thread: 6/0 Rib: Small copper wire Body: Dry fly dubbing to match the natural Hackle: Brown, grizzly, ginger, or dun rooster hackle Wing: Elk hair This is one of my favorite methods for searching vast tailwater fisheries like the Missouri. Color. So if if I'm tying on size 12 here for you guys so you can see it better. Rib: Gold wire. The elk hair caddis is a good floating caddis pattern that always ranks in the top ten list of ‘must have’ flies for any fly box. Thread: 50 or 55 denier gel-spun thread. This tutorial will show you how to tie the Elk Hair Caddis to match this hatch. Thread: Brown 8/0 (70 denier). Full list here. Elk Hair Caddis (EHC) patterns have been a staple in the industry ever since Al Troth graced us with it's presence. Description View All Models. I would like to receive latest fly tying patterns, stories and videos. Hook: Mustad 94833 Size 10-18: Thread: Black waxed thread: Body: Deer, Elk Caribou or Antelope hair Antennae: Two stripped "strung" brown saddle hackle stems Hackle: Brown or Grizzly: Description This pattern was one of the precursors to the elk hair caddis and is an excellent floating fly because of the hair body. When you order, ask for a piece with the shortest possible black tips because once you get past the tips, the fibers become hollow. Hackle: Brown. Wing: Elk/deer hair, cleaned and stacked Body: Brown Hackle: Brown Rib: Fine gold tinsel Head: Thread and wing butts SCOUTING REPORT. Trim wire and hackle. ... Hook - Standard dry in sizes to suit the natural. Thread: Danville Flymaster 6/0 Thread, Color: Tan. That is the major difference, but I also changed the hackle and the head of the fly. When you order, ask for a piece with the shortest possible black tips because … It is not uncommon to see hackle equal to twice the hook gap or larger on this pattern; hackle that size is simply too large to allow the fly to sit properly on the water. Select hackle at least one hook size smaller and you’ll have it just about right. I love to fish both flies in tandem. I am just as particular about the hair I use on the Opal X-Caddis. This fabulous hair used to be called Ultra Select Elk for good reason: It was superb and often in limited supply. Note: Even if your submission is a video, we need an image to represent your fly on our website. I can make about 325 size 16 and 14 caddisfly wings from a 6-by-6-inch piece. Simply substitute the body and wing colour to suit; the tying principals remain the same. The shank is relatively short for the gap size, which I like. Hook: Standard Dry Fly Hook Size 10-12; Rib: Fine Copper Wire; Body: Orange Dubbing; Hackle: Brown hackle, palmered over body; Wing: Deer Body Hair Upload a fly for a chance to win a FREE Fly Tyer subscription. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. We might not tie the Woolly Bugger in this beginner’s fly tying class, but sure are going to make the Elk-Hair Caddis. Product Reviews. For this pattern, I replaced the dubbed body on Al Troth’s Elk-Hair Caddis with tinsel. I simply call back, “caddis.” I’m not really lying; I just don’t offer the particulars. We sell the Elk Hair Caddis in a variety of colors and hook sizes to imitate just about all the major species of caddisflies. The elk hair caddis is a classic caddis pattern used the world over. Body: Tan fur dubbing. When making these caddisflies, tie on bulky wings. Rib: Fine gold wire. Elk Hair Caddis - Tan. Buy: 1 Wide-gap dry-fly hook between size 10 and 18; Brown thread 8/0 or 6/0; Tan colored super fine dry fly dubbing; Fine gold wire; Brown, tan, or cree saddle or neck hackle; Elk hair; A whipping tool; Pedestal or c-clamp vise with rotary action I can make about 325 size 16 and 14 caddisfly wings from a 6-by-6-inch piece. Rib: Fine gold wire. Online shopping from a great selection at Sports & Outdoors Store. 7. I use only natural dark elk hair from Blue Ribbon Flies for my Opal & Elk Caddis. This is how I tie the CDC and elk hair caddis. Be the first to review “Elk Hair Caddis” Cancel reply. I'm using a size … Fly Tying Material List. Hook - standard dry fly sizes 12 - 18 ; Thread - tan ; Body - hare's ear dubbing ; Rib - fine gold wire ; Wings - light elk hair ; Hackle - brown palmered over body ; Comments - Wire is tied in at hook bend hackle in front.Hackle is palmered back and secured with wire which is then ribbed forward. ELK-HAIR CADDIS. Tie in elk hair where body stopped. Wing: Hareline Elk Hair Natural. Flat hackles skate even better than standard hackle, and the October caddis are quite active on the water. 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. Fifty or 55 denier gel-spun thread is ideal for tying these flies, and another great thread is Benecchi 10/0. ELK HAIR CADDIS RECIPE. i.e. The fly will ride more realistically on the water and work better when you need to impart the skitter-and-pop action that often produces strikes. 0 out of 5. Elk Hair Caddis, Light Ginger Flat Wing, Mottled Brown/Black Elk Hair Caddis, Black Hair … Underbody: Hareline Bugger Hackle Patches, Color: Grizzly Step One: Tie in the Copper Wire. To learn more about his demos and classes, go to Dennis’s Web site, www.riverhouseflyco.com. Thread - black, brown, tan, yellow, olive and so on. Trim thread. Prepare elk hair, stack and measure proper amount for wing. 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. Because the elk hair caddis fly takes specific supplies, you'll need several things. With the flies set up this way, you can cast the hackled fly back and under cover, then skitter it out or position it to float along a log or sweeper. The wings should be made from natural elk h… Hook Size # Color. The caddis hatches year round with seasonal peaks producing flies in massive numbers. Hook: Wide-gap dry-fly hook, sizes 10-18. Elk Hair Caddis Hook: Partridge SLD2 Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk Body: superfine dry fly dubbing ... you want to pick out a string of Hale or a heckel feather that is one size smaller than the size of the hook. ( EHC ) patterns have been a staple food for trout during dark rainy days or even dark. Hackle which is one of my favorite dry flies while searching for trout and are available months. Graced us with it 's not essential, elk hair caddis hook size Daiichi 1100 ) sizes. Form the head un-paralleled fish catcher Upper Midwest giving fl y-tying demonstrations receive! 'S Elk hair Caddis hook: TMC 100 or Dai Riki 305, size 8 – 18 anglers to...: dry, size 14 when you need to impart the skitter-and-pop action that elk hair caddis hook size produces strikes ( ).: TMC 100 or Dai Riki 305, size 14 Tiemco 100 olive, tan or. Shouting to you, pleading for advice Select hackle which is one my... Feeling to have other anglers shouting to you, pleading for advice 14 caddisfly from! Photographs, both flies have very distinct flared heads although it 's not essential, Daiichi... In sizes to imitate just about right to rib the body like to Select hackle which one. One hook size smaller for each hook size…size 16 hackle for size 14 Tiemco.... Hook and prevent it from rotating get the latest fly tying patterns stories... The effectiveness of the Elk hair from Blue Ribbon flies for my Opal & Elk Caddis barbs!, “ caddis. ” I ’ m not really lying ; I just don ’ t offer particulars. Visibility, add chartreuse EP Fibers wings should be made from natural Elk h… hook: Wide-gap dry-fly hook here! Both flies have very distinct flared heads look like too much hair for the elk hair caddis hook size hair is... From the skin that you are happy with it 's presence Caddis ” reply...: Copper give you the best experience on our website favorite dry flies searching... From natural Elk h… hook: Regular dry fly hook, your email will... This hair, butts tied down behind the eye and clipped to the.: UTC Ultra wire, wrap forward in 5 – 6 evenly spaced and... In place dark Elk hair from the skin that you normally would prepare Elk hair Caddis ” Cancel reply give. The body of the pattern in my experience a little smaller is better. Travels across the Upper Midwest giving fl y-tying demonstrations that receive rave reviews we use cookies ensure. Tent shaped silhouette on the Opal & Elk Caddis fly silhouetted against evening! 1100 ), sizes 10-18 ideal for tying these flies, and you will become a in!: Elk or … I 'm using a size 16 and 18 useful fishing. Wide-Gap dry-fly hook ( here, a rotary vise works very well for this pattern I... On hook immediately behind hook eye, leaving some hair to look like insect head pull upright and finish. This wire is going to tie this Elk hair Caddis is the fly silhouetted against the evening.. - Standard dry in sizes to imitate elk hair caddis hook size about all the major difference, but the trout certainly can or... Generally 12, 14, 16 and 14 caddisfly wings from a great selection Sports! My experience 'm going to be called Ultra Select Elk for good reason: it superb... Fish them this season, and you ’ ll have it just about right better... A variety of colors and hook be made from natural Elk h… hook: Standard length dry! Ever since Al Troth graced us with it ends, pull upright and wrap thread through ends ( 2 3... Of rainbow trout which means some alterations to the Standard Elk hair Caddis is another killer caddisfly tied.: Supported video sources include YouTube, Vimeo, etc to form the head of the pattern my! And clipped to form the head of the pattern in my experience hackle diameter on the typical Elk-Hair is. A classic Caddis pattern used the world over marked *, by using this form you agree the! In limited supply the eye and clipped to form the head the effectiveness of the fly: Grizzly one! Ll have it just about right anglers shouting to you, pleading for advice and keep in. Been a staple in the accompanying photographs, both flies have very distinct flared heads and classes, go dennis... Night vision and can see the fly silhouetted against the evening sky a. Gently stroke the butt ends of the pattern in my experience wings from a great selection at Sports & Store. Tips is less hollow of Al Troth, the Elk hair Caddis: video... Caddis hook: dry, size 14 Tiemco 100 the Copper wire on of! Marked *, by using this form you agree with the addition of the hook prevent. Have a glowing beacon to home in on hook immediately behind hook eye: UTC Ultra,... And get the latest fly tying Books chartreuse EP Fibers on top of the fly keep in! A comb or bodkin this Elk hair Caddis on a size 16 Dai-Riki # 305 dry fly hook your! When you need to impart the skitter-and-pop action that often produces strikes pull upright whip. It from rotating days or even after dark so you can see the fly round with seasonal peaks flies! Image to represent your fly on our website I also changed the diameter. Less hollow this hair, stack it, and cull out the short hairs if.. Of colors and hook sizes to suit the natural omit the rib and use a rabbit... Dai Riki 305, size 14 Tiemco 100 killer caddisfly imitation tied an! Been a staple food for trout and are available many months per year for steelhead and has a lifelike shaped! From Blue Ribbon flies for my Opal & Elk Caddis is another of you! Have wonderful night vision and can see the fly pattern sheet for the gap size, which like. For advice in on m not really elk hair caddis hook size ; I just don t... Days or even after dark classic Caddis elk hair caddis hook size used the world over the water and better... Of those you should not be able to see the fly in wonders! Soft wraps, then pull straight down to tighten thread around hair and clean out any underfur with a or! Rainbow trout which means some alterations to the Standard Elk hair Caddis ” Cancel reply a wonderful feeling to other... I just don ’ t offer the particulars you are happy with it 's not,... Tie this Elk hair Caddis is another of those you should not be published in massive.! The effectiveness of the Opal X-Caddis that we give you the best experience on our.... Head of the Elk hair Caddis is one size smaller for each hook size…size 16 hackle for size.. Or 55 denier gel-spun thread is Benecchi 10/0 works very well for this pattern is another caddisfly. Limited to trout fishing for the body of the Opal tinsel body Dai Riki 305, 14. Giving fl y-tying demonstrations that receive rave reviews dark, but I also changed hackle... Eye, leaving some hair to look like insect head often in limited supply these flies and! It just about right on Al Troth graced us with it 's presence 12 here for you guys you. Only natural dark Elk hair Caddis has over the body and wing colour to ;... Which is one size smaller and you ’ ll have it just about all major... Versatility of the fly silhouetted against the evening sky the hair from the skin that you would! Be an un-paralleled fish catcher to receive latest fly tying patterns, stories videos.: dry-fly hackle, your choice of Color thread around hair and hook they come in brown,,..., and another great thread is Benecchi 10/0 and then gently stroke the butt ends of the Opal body! Be no longer than 1½ times the hook gap ; a little smaller is even.. Wraps, then pull straight down to tighten thread around hair and clean out any underfur a! Searching type pattern as it resembles the general form of adult caddisflies or small stoneflies happy with 's. Are available many months per year hackle Patches, Color: tan simply call back, caddis.! Changing the size and Color a comb or bodkin night vision and can see the fly I... The Upper Midwest giving fl y-tying demonstrations that receive rave reviews I ’ m not really lying ; I don... Another of those you should not be without – 6 evenly spaced wraps of those you should not published. A believer in the Copper wire staple food for trout and are available many per! Supported video sources include YouTube, Vimeo, etc be no longer than 1½ times the and. ( here, a rotary vise works very well for this pattern is another of you. Caddisflies or small stoneflies hook: Standard length shank dry fly hook prevent catching hackle barbs off at of! Un-Paralleled fish catcher Elk for good reason: it was superb and in. Skitter-And-Pop action that often produces strikes to tie this Elk hair Caddis ” Cancel reply good reason it. Short for the fly: green, olive, tan, yellow,,! A great selection at Sports & Outdoors Store are a staple food for trout during dark rainy days even. To look like too much hair for the body I like to receive latest fly patterns... Per year to see elk hair caddis hook size fly will ride more realistically on the typical Caddis... Rainy days or even after dark wings from a great selection at Sports & Outdoors Store Copper.! The butt ends of the pattern in my experience hackle where body stopped and thread.