Elk Hair Caddis

Originator: Al Troth
Tyer: Warren Prior

Description: Another very successful dry fly. I find it especially useful in the Bushman's River.

Step 1:

Anchor your cotton onto the hook and work it down to the bend. While doing this tie in a piece of copper wire which can be left hanging for now.

Step 2:

Select your dubbing of choice and dub the cotton sparsely.

Step 3:

Wrap the dubbed cotton up the hook leaving a little space behind the eye to later tie in the Elk Hair. Don't worry if the body looks a little bulky as it will be compressed by the hackle and coper wire later.

Step 4:

Strip and tie in a hackle feather of choice. Remember to measure the length of the hackle before tying it in by wrapping it around the hook shank.

Step 5:

Wrap the hackle, using the palmer method, to the bend of the hook. You can then tie it down using the copper wire which you attached in step 1.

Step 6:

Cut off the remainder of the hackle feather and then wind the copper wire up the length of the hook. Remember to do wrap the wire in the opposite direction to the hackle in order to secure it to the body. This should also compact the body nicely. Tie down the copper wire and trim off the excess.

Step 7:

Stack some Elk Hair, measure it against hook's shank length and cut it to size. Secure this bunch of Elk Hair behind the eye of the hook (remember, you left a little space for this).

Step 8:

Tie off the fly using a half hitch (or your preferred method) and apply some glue to toughen the fly and lengthen it's life.

A beauty, isn't it?

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