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Elk Hair Caddis Dry Fly
Elk Hair Caddis Dry Fly
The Elk Hair Caddis is the single most important caddis dry fly pattern in existence. Al Troth designed it in 1957 and it's been the go-to caddis imitation for nearly 70 years because nothing else floats as well, rides as naturally, or catches caddis-eating trout as consistently. The elk hair wing traps air, the palmered hackle keeps it riding high, and the silhouette perfectly matches an adult caddis on the water.
If you could only carry one dry fly on a caddis-heavy river, this is it. No contest.
When to Fish It
Spring through fall during any caddis activity — and caddis are active on virtually every trout stream. Fish it through riffles, runs, and pocket water with a dead-drift or a slight twitch. Adult caddis skitter on the surface, so a subtle skate can be deadly. Evening is prime time, but caddis activity can happen all day. Sizes 12-18 depending on the specific caddis species. Start with 14 or 16.
Specs
- Type: Dry fly — Adult caddis imitation
- Hook: Dry fly hook, standard to heavy wire
- Style: Elk hair wing — extreme buoyancy
- Best for: Trout — all water types during caddis activity
- Technique: Dead-drift, twitch, skate, hopper-dropper indicator
Why Anglers Stock This Fly
The Elk Hair Caddis is one of the five most important dry flies in the history of the sport. It works everywhere, it floats forever, and it catches trout that are eating caddis. It also works as a general attractor dry and as the indicator fly in a hopper-dropper rig. There is no reason not to have these in your box in multiple sizes. Hand-tied with quality materials by tiers with over 30 years of experience.
🎣 Want to stock up? Grab our 12-Pack Elk Hair Caddis in assorted sizes and colors.
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These are nice quality fly fishing flies. You get 4 different flies, 3 of each. This gives you a variety of options depending on what you are fishing for. I am in the Midwest and where I'm at we don't have too many trout but the good thing about these is they catch a variety of species. Bluegill loves these types of flies, as well as bass, so you are going to catch fish. The price here is very affordable for getting 12 flies in a pack. Most stores around here charge far more for the same type of flies. I really like the little case that comes with it. I don't like carrying around much while fly fishing so it's nice to have a small container to fit in my pocket. Would recommend!
Nice flies, I haven't had a chance to throw them yet, but based on build / quality alone they will get the job done. All the material feels quality, not all artificial stuff. They are super light so floating shouldn't be an issue. All the eye holes are clean, no glue or epoxy glooped over the hole. Definitely worth adding to your arsenal.
I added this Elk Hair Caddis assortment to my fly box and have been very pleased with the quality right out of the package. The flies are neatly hand tied with no excess glue or messy finishes, and they look clean and consistent. The variety of sizes and colors makes it easy to match different conditions, whether fishing rivers, streams, or lakes.They float well and stay visible on the water, which makes tracking the drift much easier. The assortment feels thoughtfully put together for both beginners and experienced anglers, and the included case keeps everything organized and protected. A solid, dependable set that fits nicely into any dry fly collection.
We ordered the "assortment". As far as value $1.42 per fly is a good price since they appear assembled more than adequately and use good hair material. Now believe it or not, I have spent time tying my own flies, but that was a lifetime ago. In today's modern global economy, I let other folks do the grunt work. Now I understand both of the hobbies of fishing versus tying flies, but my primary hobby is the fishing. Other folks may like tying flies more, and there is great value in that as a hobby as well.Regarding my 4 stars, this is due to the "assortment" which should have been quantity 4 of each of three sizes. We received quantity 2 of the larger size 14, quantity 4 of size 16 and quantity 6 of size 18. See our pics here for details.Key Points:- hair is of proper proportion to these sizes with good stiffness to perform.- colors are good with that slight variation in the assortment- Caddis fly style is a great all purpose type of fly pattern for alot of fish and locations. This is a very typical (really stereotypical) north american Caddis dry fly for trout.- no loose thread or tied material and good consistency of this quality factor- no noticeable glue dabs.- good dispersion of elk hair "wings".We hope this information is useful toward your decision. Cheers ! !
First, the price on these is great. Now, if you tie your own, you can definitely beat the price, but for purchasing, these are about 50% what they cost at a fly shop.The bodies are tied great without any sign of a loose thread. No visible glue gobs. The material patterns differ allowing you to match the hatch.They are dry flies, so you would be looking to present the fly on the top of the water. This small of a fly can catch the big ones, but often they will swallow it deep before the hook sets - so you want a hook extractor on your vest that lets you caringly get the hook loose.In all, it's a good kit, with quality flies, at a great price.
