Bodkin / Patterns

Pearl and Elk Caddis

Dry Fly · Trout · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, 12-18
  • Thread Tan 8/0

Materials

  • Pearl braid / tinsel Pearl mylar tinsel (body)
  • Brown or grizzly hackle Brown hackle (1, palmered)
  • Elk hair Natural tan deer hair (wing)

How to tie it

  1. Start the thread at the 80% mark and wrap to the bend.
  2. Tie in pearl braid at the bend and a hackle by the tip.
  3. Wind the pearl braid forward to the 80% mark for a flashy body and tie off.
  4. Palmer the hackle forward in 5-6 open turns to the 80% mark and secure.
  5. Clean and stack a bunch of elk hair, measure it to reach just past the bend, and tie it in as a downwing with tips to the rear; let a few butt ends stand up as a stub head.
  6. Trim the butts to a short stub, whip finish behind the eye and cement.

Tying videos

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