Dry · #9 of 129

Elk Hair Caddis

Imitates: Adult caddisfly

How to Rig It

Single dry, or as the lead fly with a Pheasant Tail dropper 18" below (a 'dry-dropper').

Dead-drift, then twitch or skitter at the end of the drift to mimic an egg-laying caddis.

The elk hair wing floats high in fast water and the silhouette perfectly matches a fluttering adult caddis.

Al Troth invented it in 1957 on Pennsylvania's Loyalsock Creek. It became the most copied dry fly in North America.

If trout slash but miss your caddis, give it a small twitch right before the strike — induced takes turn refusals into hookups.

What color Elk Hair Caddis works best?+

Tan and olive cover 90% of caddis hatches. Carry both in #14 and #16.

Can you fish an Elk Hair Caddis as a searching pattern?+

Yes — it's one of the best 'I have no idea what's hatching' dry flies because it represents so many caddis species.

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