Elk Hair Caddis

Materials

How to Tie the Elk Hair Caddis

1. 1

   Step 1

   Secure a dry fly hook in the vise. Start thread at the eye and wrap back to the bend.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Tie in a piece of fine gold wire at the bend for the rib.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Dub a slender body of tan or hare's ear dubbing from the bend to about 2/3 of the way up the shank.

   Keep the dubbing tight and thin. You can always add more, but removing excess is difficult.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Tie in a brown rooster hackle feather at the front of the body. Palmer it back to the bend in evenly spaced wraps.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Counter-wrap the gold wire rib forward through the palmered hackle to secure it. Tie off at the front and helicopter the wire.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Cut a small clump of elk hair and even the tips in a hair stacker. Measure it to extend just past the bend.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Tie in the elk hair wing on top of the shank with several firm wraps. The butts should flare slightly to form a small head.

   Make your first wrap loose, then pull tight. This prevents the hair from spinning around the shank.

8. 8

   Step 8

   Trim the elk hair butts at an angle, build a neat thread head over the stubs, whip finish, and apply head cement.