Bodkin / Patterns

Elk Caddis

Dry Fly · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook standard dry-fly hook (TMC 100 / Daiichi 1180), 12-16
  • Thread tan or cream 8/0 (70 denier)

Materials

  • Thread Tan/cream 8/0 thread (1 spool)
  • Rib Fine gold wire (6 in)
  • Body Tan dry-fly dubbing (Hare's Ear or synthetic) (pinch)
  • Hackle Brown dry-fly hackle (1 feather)
  • Wing Natural elk hair (small clump)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread behind the eye and lay a base back to the bend. Tie in a length of fine gold wire at the bend.
  2. Dub a slightly tapered body forward, stopping about two eye-lengths short of the eye so there is room for the wing.
  3. Tie in a brown hackle by the tip at the front of the body, then palmer it back to the bend in 5-6 evenly spaced open turns.
  4. Counter-wrap the gold wire forward through the hackle in 5-6 turns and secure at the front. Counter-wrapping locks the hackle stem so trout teeth can't unravel it.
  5. Clean and stack a small clump of elk hair, measuring it to reach just past the bend. Tie it in over the front of the body with 2-3 firm pinch wraps, letting the butts flare over the eye.
  6. Trim the butts to form a short bristly head, build a small thread collar, and whip finish.

Tying videos

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