Caddis "dry flly"

[PortMurrayAng]

Just a random question...how often do you put on and only fish an elk wing caddis. No dropper. Just a top water elk (or deer) TOP water fly?

[barkeater]

I rarely fish a single dry fly set up these days. I usually pair a caddis or mayfly 18-12 with a #20 dry fly emerger. So in answer to your question, seldom if you were inquiring about dry fly and all the time if you meant a nymph as the dropper.

[PortMurrayAng]

I mean, specifically, an elk wing caddis. Does anyone choose an elk or deer hair as the ONLY fly to fish. You're standing there, thinking, "now, finally, I can throw that tan elk wing caddis."

Just caddis dry as a go-to top choice favorite solo dry fly.

Anyone?

[PortMurrayAng]

I mean, specifically, an elk wing caddis. Does anyone choose an elk or deer hair as the ONLY fly to fish. You're standing there, thinking, "now, finally, I can throw that tan elk wing caddis."

Just caddis dry as a go-to top choice favorite solo dry fly.

Anyone?

[Vance]

I always use a caddis fly by it self. I do not use elk hair for the wing. What I use is the white tail buck hair from the the cheeks of its head. I have been using the cheek hair for at least 50 years now. For a stacker I use a .220 swift shell that I cut down so it is about 1 inch long. By the way the shell was empty when I cut it down. The hair of the cheek on a white tail buck is about one inch long. Depending when you get the buck it varies in color. Summer time hair is lighter in color than a winter killed deer. Since the hair is hollow it floats like a cork. Bill the mailman

[NJpatbee]

I use Len Wright’s fluttering caddis which uses stiff hackle for the down wing. I carry about ten variations of sizes and colors. Orvis has a great guide to caddis flies and I treat them more like mayflies, each a unique hatch and fly.

[lightenup]

Fish a dry adult caddis of your choice and trail an iris caddis during the caddis hatches and hold on for dear life...you can fish the iris as a pupa, but if the fish are rising steadily I would fish them both dry...

[Rusty Spinner]

Roy, for me the answer varies. If chasing native brookies in a small stream, the standard run of the mill tan elk hair dry is as good a fly as you can ask for. On bigger rivers when the trout are taking emerging caddis below the surface film, seldom. But I will try a spent wing caddis which is the elk hair caddis, but you split the wing so they sit more flush in the film. I do find trout will smash that even when they are not feeding on top like they would during a mayfly hatch. It represents an easy meal of what they are chasing below the surface.

Lightenup mentioned the iris caddis (aka - Irish cabbage). That is an awesome fly that is often taken hard on the surface during a caddis hatch. That said, 99% of caddis hatches here in the East are best fished with a fly like a LaFontaine caddis pupa swung using the Liesenring lift at the end of the drift and then hang on for the smashing take.

[Kapfish]

I tie a caddis I call the trout crack caddis. Just a small dubbed body then I wrap with a cdc feather topped with Elk. And I fish it often and very confidently all by its lonesome

[PortMurrayAng]

Thank you everyone. This spring has taught me alot and so have you! I have new appreciation for caddis on top.

[Rusty Spinner]

Thank you everyone. This spring has taught me alot and so have you! I have new appreciation for caddis on top.

Pictures or it never happened

[joe_panella]

Roy, for me the answer varies. If chasing native brookies in a small stream, the standard run of the mill tan elk hair dry is as good a fly as you can ask for. On bigger rivers when the trout are taking emerging caddis below the surface film, seldom. But I will try a spent wing caddis which is the elk hair caddis, but you split the wing so they sit more flush in the film. I do find trout will smash that even when they are not feeding on top like they would during a mayfly hatch. It represents an easy meal of what they are chasing below the surface.

Lightenup mentioned the iris caddis (aka - Irish cabbage). That is an awesome fly that is often taken hard on the surface during a caddis hatch. That said, 99% of caddis hatches here in the East are best fished with a fly like a LaFontaine caddis pupa swung using the Liesenring lift at the end of the drift and then hang on for the smashing take.

I agree with brian, not much better than a caddis for wiild brookies or even browns or rainbows when you are talking about high elevation tumbling mountain freestone streams.