Elk Hair Caddis
Al Troth's elk hair caddis is the most-fished dry fly in Tennessee freestone water. Cumberland Plateau caddis (sizes 14-18) and West TN summer caddis (smaller, sizes 14-16) both eat the same pattern in different sizes. If you carry one dry fly in TN, this is it.
Why it works
The elk hair caddis isn't a perfect imitation of any single insect, but it sits low like an emerging caddis, gets pushed around like a struggling adult, and rides high enough to skate through pocket water. It covers the in-between moments better than a more-specific imitation.
Sizes by watershed
| Region | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland Plateau | 14-18 | Caney Fork peak March-May, sized down July |
| East TN | 14-18 | Hiwassee, Tellico, S Holston; #16 standard |
| Middle TN | 14-16 | Stones River + lower Cumberland |
| West TN | 12-16 | Reelfoot, Kentucky Lake; warmer water |
Fishing it
- Dead-drift through pocket water: cast upstream, mend once, drift past holding lies.
- Skitter at dusk: late in the evening, twitch the fly during the swing to imitate egg-laying adults. The strike is violent.
- Dropper rig: hang a soft-hackle or unweighted nymph 12-18 inches below the caddis. The dry indicates; the nymph catches half your fish.
Variations worth carrying
- X-Caddis: trailing-shuck version; deadly on the SoHo when fish refuse the standard EHC.
- CDC and Elk: smaller, lower-floating European version; ideal in flat water.
- Soft-hackle caddis: subsurface emerger; swing through riffles when nothing's rising.
Mistakes anglers make
The most common is fishing it too dry. The elk hair caddis on its second drift through the same seam (after it's been dunked) often outfishes a fresh one. Don't aerialize the moisture out of it; let it ride low.