[dorian.ducker]

OK not really. I know this is one of the top dry flies for many situations, floats high and is very durable. I really like this fly actually and caught my first fish on a dry fly with this.

However.....I was on Henry's Fork the other day in the middle of a Caddis hatch and couldn't help but notice that the Elk Hair Caddis at BEST vaguely looks like the Caddis flies I saw. At worst it resembles it almost not at all! Has anyone else come to this conclusion?? I know the Caddis I saw were smaller and had a more mottled color appearance wise than the typical size 10-14 Tan Elk Hair Caddis I am used to, but come on....the shape seems to be totally different.

Anyone out there agree with me or am I off my rocker??

[Davo]

Dorian

The one thing to consider when judging the look of a fly is its under side. That is what the fish sees looking up at your fly. You want the underneath of your fly to look like the bottom profile of the natural.

[plland]

The fish only see the bottom of the insect, so the elk hair caddis imitates (or is supposed to imitate) how the fish would see them and how they would float in the water. At least that's my understanding of it. BTW- are you sure you were looking at caddis flies? I've never seen a significant caddis fly "hatch" in the same way I've seen a mayfly hatch.

[Davo]

Originally Posted by plland

The fish only see the bottom of the insect, so the elk hair caddis imitates (or is supposed to imitate) how the fish would see them and how they would float in the water. At least that's my understanding of it. BTW- are you sure you were looking at caddis flies? I've never seen a significant caddis fly "hatch" in the same way I've seen a mayfly hatch.

Here on the Snake River in Jackson we get some very prolific caddis hatches in May and early June. They will be all over the boat and the fishermen. Unfortunately the river is most always in full run off at the time. Out of 12 years guiding I've fish these hatches about 3 times. The mayfly hatches pale in comparison.

[plland]

Wow that must be a sight to see. Too bad the stream is so high when they're hatching. Around where I am in Northern AZ, I only see them "here and there", though in streams with lots of casings on the rocks, even when I can't see any caddis flies in the air or on the water, the fish go crazy for elk hair caddises.

[dorian.ducker]

Yeah, I am sure they were Caddis flies. I have never seen a Caddis hatch until then. There were a ton of them. I was on a bridge and they were all over the bridge, in my hair, on my clothes, etc. Around here they call this particular Caddis the Mother's Day Caddis as it always seems to hatch around this time. It was pretty cool.

[fyshstykr]

Dorian,
There are many different Caddis that hatch on Henrys' Fork, Black Micro Caddis, Tan Caddis, Olive Caddis, Grey colored Caddis, and later on you get the Long Horn Caddis.
Just as many sub-species of Caddis as there are Mayflies.

Pick up 'Caddisflies' by Gary LaFontaine and start studying up.

[liv2fish]

Plland, there is a caddis hatch on the Ark. river in CO called the "Mother's Day" caddis hatch that is so thick you just drive along the river/highway (at 40+mph) until you see them. At that point I usually move slightly upstream to where the hatch isn't as thick yet and start fishing.
hahaha Didn't read the other posts... yea, the mother's day caddis hatch happens within a few weeks every year around mothers day. I fished it last year and had a blast although I'm no that big of a fan of the Ark. They do come various colors (grey and tan being the most pop. IMO).

[sandfly]

The mother day is is the Grannom hatch, Here in pa. its a big hatch sometimes blizzard looking..Right now its happening here.

[dshort]

I happened upon a caddis hatch last May on the West Branch of the Delaware in NY and it was blizzard like. I had never seen anything like it before and have certainly never seen a Mayfly hatch that compared. As for the Elk Hair Caddis, I think it is best for slightly rough water where flotation is key. There are definitely more imitative patterns.