Elk Hair Caddis: The Essential Caddis Pattern

The Elk Hair Caddis is the go-to dry fly when caddis are hatching or as a searching pattern.

Caddisflies are incredibly important to trout, and this pattern perfectly imitates the adult caddis fluttering on the water’s surface.

Materials

Hook: Size 12-18 dry fly hook (standard wire) Thread: Brown, olive, or black 6/0 Tail: Elk or deer hair (short and sparse) Body: Superfine dubbing or dry fly dubbing Rib: Fine gold or copper wire (optional) Wing: Elk body hair (natural or dyed) Hackle: Dry fly hackle (optional - palmered through body)

The Natural Insect

Understanding caddisflies helps you tie and fish this pattern effectively:

• Caddis adults flutter across the water (not mayflies that float)
• Egg-laying caddis dive and return to the surface
• Spent caddis have wings laid flat (not upright like mayflies)
• Caddis skitter across the surface in a jerky motion

The Two Styles

Style 1: The Standard Elk Hair Caddis

With hackle wrapped through the body. This floats higher and is more buoyant.

Style 2: The No-Hackle Version

Just the hair wing, no hackle. Sits lower in the film, more realistic.

Both work well - learn both styles.

Step-by-Step (Standard Version)

1. Thread Base

1. Place hook in vise
2. Start thread behind the eye
3. Wrap to the bend and back
4. Build a smooth thread base

2. The Tail

1. Clean a small bunch of deer or elk hair
2. Remove the underfur
3. Stack the hair to even the tips
4. Measure: tail should be about hook gap length
5. Tie in at the bend, extend slightly past the bend

3. The Ribbing (Optional but Recommended)

1. Tie in gold wire at the bend
2. Wrap thread to about 2/3 up the shank
3. Leave thread here

4. The Body

1. Apply dubbing to thread
2. Create a slender, tapered body
3. Stop about 2 eye-widths behind the eye
4. Rib with gold wire (if using)
5. Tie off and trim excess

5. The Hackle (Standard Style)

1. Select a hackle feather
2. Strip off the fluffy base fibers
3. Tie in by the tip at the front of the body
4. Palmer the hackle backward through the body
5. Tie off at the tail

6. Preparing the Wing

1. Select a clump of elk hair
2. Clean out all the fuzzy underfur
3. Even the tips in a hair stacker
4. Measure: wing should extend to the bend
5. Length should be about equal to hook shank

7. Tying in the Wing

Critical Step - Read Carefully

1. Cut the hair from the hide
2. Lay the hair on top of the hook
3. The butt ends should face forward (toward the eye)
4. The tips extend back over the body
5. Make two loose thread wraps over the butt ends
6. Tighten gradually - the hair will flare
7. Make several tight wraps to secure
8. Trim the butt ends at an angle

8. The Head

1. Wrap thread to form a small head
2. Whip finish
3. Cement if desired

Step-by-Step (No-Hackle Version)

Follow steps 1-4 above, then:

5. The Wing

Same process as standard version:

1. Prepare and stack elk hair
2. Lay over hook, butt ends forward
3. Secure with thread, let flare
4. Trim butts, form head

That’s it - no hackle needed!

Pro Tips

Hair Selection

Elk hair:

• Hollow, floats well
• More durable than deer
• Better for larger flies

Deer hair:

• Finer, more delicate
• Better for smaller sizes
• More natural appearance

Wing Position

• Properly tied: Wing stands up at 45° angle
• Too tight: Wing lays flat
• Too loose: Wing falls over
• Just right: Hair flares properly, tips extend back

Body Colors

• Tan: Most common
• Olive: Excellent caddis color
• Black: Good for dark caddis
• Bright: For visibility in difficult light

Trimming

Traditional: Leave wing full length

Trimmed: Cut wing to ½ length (more realistic)

Splayed: Separate wing into two small wings

Common Problems

Wing spins: Your hair isn’t flared evenly.

Hair won’t flare: Thread wraps are too tight before you tighten them.

Wing too sparse: Use more hair.

Wing too thick: Use less hair.

Wing falls backward: Hair is tied in too far back.

Size Guide

• Size 12: Early season, larger water
• Size 14: Standard all-around size
• Size 16: Most common size
• Size 18: Small hatches, spooky fish

Fishing the Elk Hair Caddis

The Dead Drift

• Cast upstream or across
• Mend immediately
• Let it drift drag-free
• Takes are usually aggressive

The Skitter

More realistic for caddis:

• Cast across stream
• Make small twitches with the rod tip
• Fly skitters across the surface
• Can trigger aggressive strikes

The Drown

• Cast and let it sit
• Occasionally pull it under slightly
• Imitates diving egg-layers
• Takes can be explosive

Color Combinations

Traditional:

• Tan body, natural wing

Olive:

• Olive body, natural wing
• Excellent all-around

Dark:

• Black body, dark wing
• Evening fishing

Bright:

• Yellow or bright green body
• Stained water

Rigging Options

Single Dry Fly:

• Standard presentation
• Easy to cast and fish

Two Dry Flies:

• Elk Hair Caddis as lead
• Smaller dry fly 18-24 inches behind
• Fish both levels

Dry-Dropper:

• Elk Hair Caddis on top
• Small nymph 12-18 inches below
• Covers rising and feeding fish

When to Fish It

Caddis hatch:

• Obvious rising fish
• Fluttering insects over water
• Late afternoon through evening

As a searching pattern:

• No visible hatch
• Prospecting likely water
• Confidence pattern

Evening spinner fall:

• Fish rising steadily
• Low light conditions

The Elk Hair Caddis is simply one of the most effective dry flies ever created. Tie your box full and fish it often.

Production Tips

Tie 6 at a time in stages:

1. All tails and bodies
2. All wings
3. All heads and whip finishes

This efficient approach will fill your fly box quickly.