A variation on Troth?s Elk Hair Caddis. Excellent floater!
Hook : TMC 900BL 10-16
Thread : Your usual workhorse 6/0 or 8/0 thread. I use Danvilles Flymaster for this.
Body/ Hackle: Squirrel guard hair - no underfur. Hare body can be used too. For the one below I?ve used Red Fox Squirrel.
Wing: Deer Hair - I use Elk :? :)
1. Tie in thread behind eye. Take to rear
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk1.jpg)
2. Catch in a dubbing loop, take thread back up to eye end ( I leave it about 1 ? eye widths back)
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk2-1.jpg)
3. Catch your dubbing spinner into the loop - and then apply a generous mat of squirrel guard hairs. Don?t use any additional wax for this .
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk3.jpg)
4. Spin up the loop.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk4.jpg)
5. Take the loop of spun fur up the shank in touching turns - it helps the fibres stand out if you ?double? it, as you might when tying in a soft game hackle, say.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk5.jpg)
6. Tie off the loop when you get to the hanging thread ( you could fluff it up further with a piece of Velcro here)
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk6.jpg)
7. Preen the fibres down with thumb and forefinger.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk7.jpg)
8. Make a cut, at a shallow angle through the most ?offensive? guard hairs still sticking up - makes a nice nest for the wing
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk8.jpg)
9. Cut out, comb and stack a bunch of Elk, or similar hair. Offer it up for length.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk9.jpg)
10. Take it in the other hand, and trim the butts to length in advance of tying in.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk10.jpg)
11. Secure in place with around 4 turns of thread ( I usually take the twist out of the thread beforehand). Whip finish under the butts
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk11.jpg)
12. Give the butts and whip finish a healthy dose of head cement
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk12.jpg)
13. Invert hook in vice ( this could have been done before step 12) and trim out the lower hackle - I trim it just lower than flush in a shallow ?^?.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk13.jpg)
14. Let the cement dry .
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk14.jpg)
From above.
(http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u178/_d_07/elk/elk15.jpg)
- I usually treat these with ?Watershed? in advance. Floats like a cork. Sort of.
Cheers,
.D.
Nice one .D. Looks deadly.
About time we saw some of your step by steps on here .D. Makes a change from my repeats. :banana
Thanks for sharing.