Skip to main content

Elk Hair Caddis

Elk Hair Caddis

Step 1

Start the thread about two eye lengths back from the eye and make a thread base back to the bend. Return the thread to the starting point and tie in a piece of fine copper wire. Wrap back over the wire to the bend.

Step 2

Dub a tapered body from the bend to the starting point.

Step 3

Tie in a rooster neck hackle feather by its butt at the front edge of the dubbed body.

Step 4

Spiral wrap the feather back over the body with six or seven turn to the bend.

Step 5

Catch the tip of the hackle feather with the wire and continue wrapping the wire forward through the hackle to the starting point. Trim the excess wire and the tip of the hackle feather.

Step 6

Cut, clean and stack a clump of elk hair. Measure it against the hook so it is a shank length long. Clip the butt ends where they line up with the hook eye.

Step 7

Lay the cut clump of hair on top of the hook with the butt ends just behind the eye. Make two tight turns of thread over the hair and cinch them down by pulling toward you with the thread.

Step 8

Build a small band of tight thread wraps to anchor the wing in place. Whip finish and clip the thread on top of the thread band.

Elk Hair Caddis

Recipe: Hook: TMC 100SP-BL or 100 Thread: Tan 6/0 Rib: Fine Copper Wire Body: Superfine Dubbing, color of choice Hackle: Brown Rooster Neck hackle Wing: Natural Bull Elk Hair

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
News

Mending the Line Trailer

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
Destinations/Species

The Mother's Day Caddis Hatch

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
Destinations/Species

A Fly Fishing Short Film

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
News

FF Mag Promo June-July 2023

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
Gear

How to Tie Smitherman's Draggin' Nymph

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
Destinations/Species

Costa Films Presents “Hooked On: Bonefish”

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
Destinations/Species

Pharmaceutical Pollution Threatens Florida's Shallow-Water Fish

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
How-To/Techniques

Tying Rene Harrop's Hairwing Dun Fly

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
How-To/Techniques

Tying Barr's Damsel Fly

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
Gear

Tying the Pheasant Tail Nymph Fly

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
How-To/Techniques

Tying the Hare's Ear Fly

Learn to tie the Woolly Bugger fly with master tier Charlie Craven.
How-To/Techniques

Tying the Famous Woolly Bugger

Fly Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Fly Fisherman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now