Elk Hair Caddis

[DoveTail]

With antennas you can get 3.14% more line twist.

[jdmidwest]

Let me get my slide rule out.

If you add a trailing shuck, you probably should be casting an emerger.

The antennae look a little thick. The proportions of the fly are a little off, the hair wing extends a little far past the back of the hook and the body continues a little far past the curve of the hook. But that is if you want to be critical of the fly in the most critical sense. If you can catch a fish with it, then it works. It is a pretty good looking fly overall.

In caddis, as well as other flies, the thorax of the fly seems to be the most critical. Trout seem to concentrate on that color when they decide it is food or fly. Match the hatch to the color of the body and you should do well. The other parts are just fluff. They will pay attention as to how they ride in the water film as far as dry flies, emergers, or nymphs.

I personally use CDC feathers instead of hackle for most on my Caddis, easier to tye and floats good too.

[fishinwrench]

jdmidwest has made 3 times more posts than I have since 2006, so he is 75% more likely to know a good caddis when he sees one.

If the percentages were a tad closer I'd challenge both the floatation advantages of CDC, and the proportionate wing length

[jdmidwest]

CDC allows the fly to float lower in the water film allowing more of the body to rest on the film giving the trout a better view in my opinion. It is easier to tye and since I duck hunt, I have bags of the natural color stuff. Downside, first fish usually slimes it and you have to retire it to the box till it dries out again. But, hackle gets slimed also.

On rough water, the extra flotation of hackle is preferred.

I hope we did not scare Pastor off with all of the percentages.

[fishinwrench]

Beginning last Fall I started playing with split wing design for caddis, and I'm pretty convinced that they float better, and appear more realistic from below.

It may just be zen mental but nevertheless it has somehow increased the number of risers...for Me.

It is a spinoff of a Harrop hairwing dun, looks like this...

[laker67]

Beginning last Fall I started playing with split wing design for caddis, and I'm pretty convinced that they float better, and appear more realistic from below.

It may just be zen mental but nevertheless it has somehow increased the number of risers...for Me.

It is a spinoff of a Harrop hairwing dun, looks like this...

A guaranteed current river fly. Nice fly "fw".

[fishinwrench]

Thanks Laker ! Yep, that's the one...it worked even though it was almost 2 sizes too big. Next time I hit the Current I'll have some smaller ones and hopefully decrease the number of refusals some.

Of course, next time there won't even be a decent hatch...I know the drill