Little Black Elk Hair Caddis

[mic]

Is the elk hair black or natural on the the little black elk hair caddis fly that some use here in the Ozarks? Also, what sizes are good?

[Idylwilde]

The size 18 Black Elk Hair Caddis is a good all around dry fly on cloudy days, or in rain. Any time the Griffin's gnat is working the black 18 elk hair will work. The gnat is sometimes better when used in size 20 or smaller. The Elk Hair 18 is a good in the eddy film water just out of the feeder flow.

[grizwilson]

To my knowledge, the elk hair is natural, you use a black hackle rather than ginger, with a tan or olive body. I personally have not had much luck with the black in the Ozarks. Out west it is killer around Jackson Hole. But on a cloudy day I would think it should work. But I am no expert.

[mic]

To my knowledge, the elk hair is natural, you use a black hackle rather than ginger, with a tan or olive body. I personally have not had much luck with the black in the Ozarks. Out west it is killer around Jackson Hole. But on a cloudy day I would think it should work. But I am no expert.

I've never tried so don't have an opinion one way or the other. Just saw it listed on multiple Ozark hatch charts.

[Idylwilde]

This is the one I have had some good luck with under the right conditions

[timsfly]

We have a black caddis that hatches out at R.R. most of the winter months, don't see it everyday like the tan caddis, but we see them

alot, I use the #16-#20's all winter long, see them sometimes up untill april, as early as october.

I use a dyed short fine deer hair for my smallest caddis patterns, much eaiser to use than elk and works better for me on the smaller

patterns, only you and you alone will know it isn't elk

[Gavin]

There is a recipe in this months OFF newsletter..its back a couple of pages.

http://www.ozarkflyfishers.org/newsletters/y2012/January%202012%20Newsletter.pdf