Low Resolution (click) | | Al Troth's Elk Hair Caddis is one of the greatest flies. Is there anyone who
doesn't have at least a few Elk Hair Caddis in ther boxes? Al's flies have a
high-on-the-water profile that's easy to see and they've caught more fish over the years than
a grand banks dory. Winding a hackle on a horizontal shank does make a fly
with a tall profile, however, and natural Caddis flies do ride on the
surface of the wate with a flatter, almost chip-like profile.
The Flat Caddis is a lot like a traditional Elk Hair Caddis, with
the plane of the hackles rotated 90 degrees, so the parachute hackle
fibers are positioned parallel to the water rather than at right angles to it.
Flat Caddis, like real Caddis flies, sit so low on the water they can
be hard to see. I sometimes add a tuft of white synthetic fibers
to the top of the wing so my aging eyes can find the fly more easily.
These flies do float well, they catch fish and they do look a little more
like the real thing to me. Making them is fast and easy, once you get the
hang of it.
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Caddis/
Flat Caddis/