Elk Hair Caddis Variation

Tied by Peter Brigg

June 2004

The Elk Hair Caddis Variation is a favourite of mine both for rivers and still waters. It can be fished as an adult caddis imitation or even a small hopper at times. Size can vary from #12 for still waters mainly down to size #18 for small streams. I think the optimal sizes are #14 and #16. It floats well and can be easily seen on the water. Although it floats fairly low in the surface film, like the natural caddis it can be skated easily across the water

Materials

Hook

Traditional straight shank hook with wide gape

Thread

Black

Tail

 Deer hair

Body

Peacock herl. (Experiment with other colours of dubbing.)

Wing

Deer Hair

Hackle

Grizzly or Badger

Tying Instructions

1) Tie in tying thread and wrap in touching turns to a point opposite the barb.
2) Tie in a short sparse bunch of deer hair as the tail. Take 2 loose turns around the shank and deer hair and then two tight turns next to this on the eye side of the hook to prevent flaring of the tail.
3) Add peacock herl o dubbing o choice to create the abdomen/thorax finishing at a point 2/3 the way back along the shank and secure.
4) Add the deer hair wing at the point you finished the abdomen, sloping it over the back with the tips finishing just short of the ends of the tail. Take two loose turns of thread around the shank and deer hair and then two tight turns next to this on the eye side of the hook to prevent flaring of the wing. Try and prevent the wing from lifting two high off the shank. Ideally it should lie across the top of the abdomen.
5) Tie in a hackle as you would for a dry fly, with fibres about width of the gape.
6) Wind the hackle forward in a few turns keeping it sparse, and secure behind the eye, leaving enough space to create a neat small head.
7) Finish the head with tying thread, whip finish and apply varnish.