(click on any picture to see a full size view)
This is my all time favorite dry fly. It seems to work in almost any water and becomes my "scouting" fly while I'm looking to see what the fish are hitting. It's origins are with the Elk Hair Caddis and has become modified over the years thanks to tricks from my friend Brick (the Huston Brook Caddis) and some modifications I've made. The deer hair is very buoyant and the fly will take a lot of hits from brookies before needing to be changed. Best of all, this fly can be tied in 5 minutes once you have a routine going and you can fill your fly box in a couple of hours.
Hook: 14 - through 18 dry fly
Thread: You choose. I prefer tan, black or yellow
Body: Synthetic dubbing, green, rust, or black
Hackle: Grizzly or Furnace, I usually tie this fly with a hackle one size larger than my hook size for a higher profile on the water.
Wing: Deer Hair (If you want the blond color seen in these pictures, soak your patch of deer hair in peroxide for three days, rinse well and let dry)
Step 1: Place hook in vise as shown.
Step 2: Wrap thread from eye to rear of hook.
Step 3: Tie in the hackle feather. I prefer to tie in the tip, when complete the longer fibers are at the front of the fly.
Step 4: Create a loop in the thread and then wind thread towards the eye. Place some wax on the thread.
Step 5: Place the synthetic fibers in the loop while holding it open.
Step 6: Using a hooked tool, twist the loop closed.
Step 7: Wind the loop very tightly, this may take 50-60 twists. It will create a section that almost looks like yarn.
Step 8: Using the hooked tool, wrap the dubbing towards the eye of the hook and tie it off.
Step 9: Now grasp the end of the hackle and keeping the fibers perpendicular to the hook, wrap towards the eye.
Step 10: Tie off the hackle near the eye and trim off the excess.
Step 11: Pinch a small tuft of deer hair and cut it off at the base.
Step 12: Place the hairs in your stacker with the tips down and tap the stacker lightly to align the tips.
Step 13: Grasp the butt ends of the deer hair and remove from the stacker.
Step 14: Place the deer hair over the top of the hook so that the tips line up with the bend of the hook.
Step 15: While pinching tightly to hold the deer hair in place, wrap the thread loosely around the hairs (twice) near the eye then wrap tightly for five more turns.
Step 16: Trim away the butt ends of the deer hair as shown.
Step 17: Place two half-hitches to secure the thread. I use an old ball point pen case, rolling a loop off the pen case unto the hook.
Step 18: The finished product.
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