fshng84 0 Report post Posted September 11, 2018 Rainy days are great for fly tying; here is a quick tie of an Elk hair Caddis using material on hand! Size 14 or 16 Dry Fly Hook 7/0 Dacron Tying Thread (Olive because it was handy) Grizzly Hackle Hares Ear Dubbing Copper Wire Ribbing (Gold as well as tinsel works, too) Elk Hair Quick Tie - Elk Hair Caddis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Cummings 0 Report post Posted September 12, 2018 Nice video. Quick it was lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B. LeBlanc 0 Report post Posted September 13, 2018 I'm pretty sure the wire is supposed to reinforce the hackle. Think you got those steps out of order. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted September 13, 2018 thats exactly what i was thinking. wire reinforces hackle hair should be cleaned of underfur and hair tips toward the bend Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fshng84 0 Report post Posted September 14, 2018 I followed the steps that Tightline showed... only difference, is I went with material I had on hand and used 5second UV Glue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B. LeBlanc 0 Report post Posted September 14, 2018 Looks like he also did the steps out of order This is the method I prefer to use, tying in the hackles at the front then using the wire to secure it. http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/print.cfm?parentID=44 But, to each their own... it doesnt really matter that much. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fshng84 0 Report post Posted September 14, 2018 Looks like he also did the steps out of order This is the method I prefer to use, tying in the hackles at the front then using the wire to secure it. http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/print.cfm?parentID=44 Cool... looks like the fish don't care but tying over the hackles does make for longer lasting flies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted September 14, 2018 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fshng84 0 Report post Posted September 14, 2018 Thanks flytire for the examples... I looked at those videos, too; still like Tightlines, mainly because I can tie it fast. But, always game to try other patterns. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjm 0 Report post Posted September 14, 2018 For all these sort of patterns I tie the hackle in at the rear and wind to the head, I just don't trust the wire to keep the end secure, one of the first instances of the wire held hackle flies that I ever saw was one I bought and it came unwound. (happened twice before I figured it out, both flies from same store) But winding the wire in the opposite direction still puts it over the stem and may give it some durability. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B. LeBlanc 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2018 That's a valid point. I've never had the issue but I can see it happening. As far as doing the rib first then wrapping the hackle, it doesn't make sense at all and would take no extra time to swap the steps. Even if it does add time, which it won't, I would much rather have a more durable fly that takes an extra minute to tie. That's my $0.02, which ain't worth much Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fshng84 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2018 That's a valid point. I've never had the issue but I can see it happening. As far as doing the rib first then wrapping the hackle, it doesn't make sense at all and would take no extra time to swap the steps. Even if it does add time, which it won't, I would much rather have a more durable fly that takes an extra minute to tie. That's my $0.02, which ain't worth much All good points! Will tie a both ways and see if it makes a difference to the fish. :-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fshng84 0 Report post Posted September 21, 2018 Another variant of the Elk Hair Caddis we tied the other day in a Quick Tie demo. This demo uses the same pattern and material that was already on hand. No need to run to the store to buy material. The one difference is this pattern wraps the wire rib over the dubbing body and the palmer wrapped hackle. In the other demo, we tied the wire rib after the dubbing body but before the hackle. We anticipate this pattern will be more durable than the previous one, but not certain if the fish will prefer one over the other. So, in a "Field Test" (excuse to go fishing more), we plan to fish both patterns, and describe what we observe.... do stay tuned! PS: The other pattern has caught 20+ Sunfish and Bluegill and is still going strong! Also, do stay tuned or the follow-up video on the Bubble Fly Rig. We hope to answer our Reader's question and maybe convince others who want to fish with fishing flies but do not have a fly rod or are still learning how to fly fish! Another variant of the Elk Hair Caddis. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites