Tie The Straggle Elk Hair Caddis

Sporting a straggle string body with a poly-yarn underwing this caddis pattern has both sparkle and buoyancy in abundance.  A hackle can be added to the fly to create commotion in a rolling wave.  The hackless version is ideal for targeting moving fish, or prospecting in general 
 

Hook:  Kamasan B-170 size 10-14 
Thread: Semperfli 8/0 pale olive classic waxed
Body: Semperfli olive straggle string
Underwing: Semperfli iron blue dun poly yarn
Wing: Elk hair

Straggle String is a market leader as a micro straggle chenille with the thinest core available on the market with a huge choice in colours. Pressure dyed so the colour is fast deep into the core, with traditional and fluoresecnt colours available. With shorter tighter strands with built in UV fleck it makes Staggle String perfect for thoraxes and micro legs.

Now with Peacock Herl being CITIES registered Hans van Klinken now uses Straggle String as a replacement for his Peacock Herl on his famous Klinkhamer fly, along with all of his other patterns!

• Ultra fine fritz with just 2 bonded cores
• UV Fleck built in
• Incredible range of colours, including fluoro
• Multicard in 3 options available; Natural, Standard, Steelhead

Tying Tip

Semperfli classic waxed thread is a multi-fibre tying thread that principally lays flat.  However, with every turn of our bobbin holder, we tighten our thread one revolution in a clockwise direction (viewed from above).  This tightening renders our thread round in profile, which can now act like a cheese wire if too much pressure is applied.  Therefore, when securing the likes of elk/deer hair, it’s best to gently spin your bobbing holder in an anticlockwise (left to right) direction as this flattens the thread off, so it will lay flat once more and with a greater surface area now, it doesn’t shear elk hair fibres.

Fishing Tips

Where rising fish are encountered, a single fly is the best option as this reduces the odds of tangles when constantly casting and changing direction. Now a Wychwood 12ft camo leader with a 6lb tippet should suffice.  When searching the water, it’s worth using a team of two flies positioned some 4ft apart.
 
Often when targeting rises, it’s a case of determining the trout’s direction of travel and landing your fly in front of them.  The occasional tweak or two doesn’t hurt when you perceive the trout to be near your fly now.  When prospecting, it’s often best to work your flies using a steady figure-of-eight retrieve.