Some fly patterns stand the test of time. Like the clean and powerful
lines of Greek and Roman architecture, their elegant profiles carry the
best elements of the past into the future.
Way back in the
1950s, a native-Pennsylvanian-turned-rugged-Montana-trout-bum named Al
Troth wrapped some thread about a bit of elk hair fibers roughly
matched to the length of a hook shank. Did he know he had created
perhaps the most effective adult caddis imitation of all time?
The
Elk Hair Caddis is an elegant imitation of an adult caddis, but can
also be highly effective when imitating Little Brown Stoneflies in
their adult life stage. The Elk Hair Caddis Little Brown Stonefly
should hold a prominent place in any angler's well-stocked trout fly
box.
Specifications:
- An elegantly simple fly pattern developed by native Pennsylvanian and legendary Montana fly fishing guide, Al Troth
- Little brown stonefly imitation in the adult life stage
- Use as either an impressionistic searching fly or as a realistic imitation when matching the hatch
- Drift the fly through different water types; faster riffles and shallower water near the banks of a river with moderate to slow currents are the most productive water types for this fly
- To imitate egg-laying females, add a few jerky twitches to the dead drift for a lifelike appearance
- Be sure to scope out slower water below and adjacent to the higher energy sections of the river or stream and present the fly on a dead drift
- When approaching slower and shallower water, be wary of disturbing holding fish and use more delicate dry fly presentations
- SIZE 16
When and Where to Fish the Elk Hair Caddis – Little Brown Stonefly
This
medium sized adult stonefly can be fished as either an impressionistic
fly pattern when searching for trout or as a realistic imitation when
matching the hatch. When searching, fish this fly in riffles, well
defined current seams, areas below faster currents, and near exposed
rocky structure and streamside vegetation. Shallow water near the river
bank will also be productive when fishing a little brown stonefly
hatch, so be sure to survey the scene thoroughly. These adults do not
possess strong flying ability, however, and are often swept into the
main current’s drift – look for these floating specimens in the main
drift as well as shallower, less energetic water near sheltered areas.
Prior to and during emergence, an angler will easily spot little brown
stonefly nymphs crawling from the rocky depths to the shallower water
along the river bank and eventually to the surface of exposed rocks and
vegetation to shed their shucks and hatch into winged adults – this is
the sign to begin fishing the little brown stonefly hatch.
How to Fish the Elk Hair Caddis - Little Brown Stonefly
Fish
this dry fly on the water’s surface during and just following a hatch
of adult little brown stoneflies. When imitating a fallen adult caught
in the main current’s drift, achieving a motionless dead drift can be
very important. When imitating a female adult returning to the water’s
surface to deposit her eggs, however, adding a few subtle twitches to
the dead drifted fly can be tremendously effective. Add these lifelike
twitches simply by moving the rod tip up and down slightly. These
techniques are most useful in medium to faster riffles, current seams,
and pools. Slower backwaters and eddys below and adjacent to these
higher energy environments can also be fantastic places to find
floating adult little brown stoneflies and the trout that prey on them.
When approaching slower, shallower water be wary of disturbing the
holding fish and make more delicate dry fly presentations.
Little Brown Stonefly
Little brown stoneflies are small
stoneflies commonly found in trout water throughout western North
America. These dark brown, slate grey or black crawling nymphs are
widely distributed throughout rivers and streams, and are generally the
first stoneflies to hatch during the year. Despite this broad
distribution and early hatch cycle, little brown stoneflies are rarely
available to trout in their nymph stage. During this sheltered larval
stage, little brown stoneflies spend the balance of their time using
their slender, but strong legs, and low center of gravity to crawl or
“creep” about the rocky bottoms of small to large rivers and spring
creeks with moderate to fast flow rates. As nymphs, little brown
stoneflies display short tails and antennae and can sometimes display
complex patterns along their backs. As winged adults, these insects
take on a rich brown or black color and boast the flat wings common to
all adult stoneflies. The little brown stonefly is clumsy in flight and
follows the life stages of a typical stonefly life cycle. The species
is known throughout the western United States as the “Early Brown
Stone” for its common winter (January) and spring (May) emergence
pattern.
Little Brown Stone Adult Life Stage
This
small early season stonefly is available to trout throughout western
North America and can be a fantastic hatch to fish if insect activity
and emergence is sparse. The little brown stonefly is hardly available
to trout during its nymph stage because of its self-protective
reclusive behavior, but during emergence and as winged adults these
stoneflies can be an excellent source of food for hungry trout. As
adults, little brown stoneflies are most vulnerable when they fall onto
the water’s surface during or after mating or when females return to
the water’s surface to deposit their fertilized eggs. Little brown
stoneflies are terrible in flight and females will rest on the water’s
surface for relatively long periods between successive egg deposits.
Adults of this species are easily recognized by their long antennae and
dark grey, brown, or black coloration.
About the Tyer: Al Troth
Al
Troth was a true pioneer of modern fly fishing in America. Born and
raised in Pennsylvania, he literally reshaped the face of trout fly
tying when in 1957 he created the elegantly simple and wildly popular
Elk Hair Caddis, a fly pattern that has served as the inspiration for a
host of similar modern trout flies. Shortly after showing off his new
caddis imitation on the great fly water of Loyalsock Creek, Troth
headed west to the great roaring waters of Montana where he quickly
became a revered fly fishing guide and master fly tyer.
Leland on Umpqua
In
1972 a man named Dennis Black and his fly tying skills found themselves
in high demand. Mr. Black, then a professional production fly tyer, was
famous in the industry for his unsurpassed skill and speed with
whipping up tremendously beautiful and precisely constructed flies. It
wasn’t long until this young fly tying superstar realized that he ought
to take his consistent approach to quality to the next level. Shortly
after this realization, a small army of fly tyers had banded together
to support Mr. Black’s vision. With the likes of Dave Whitlock, Jack
Dennis, and Andy Puyans, Mr. Black was officially in business.
Dennis
Black’s new company Umpqua Feather Merchants quickly extended its reach
and fly production capabilities with expansion into India, Sri Lanka,
and Thailand, where the world’s first and full blown “fly tying
factories” were built. Since those early days, only the highest
standard of excellence has marked Umpqua and this commitment to quality
and efficiency continues to spur the company forward. Dennis Black’s
innovative vision for “fly production” has truly revolutionized how the
fly industry operates and has ultimately made the majority of
production flies better. From the first “royalty system” for rewarding
the most creative professional fly tyers to streamlining production
systems and offering a range of other products, Umpqua Feather
Merchants just seems to “do it all.”
Today, Umpqua Feather
Merchants is without a doubt the world’s best and most prolific
supplier of hand tied fly fishing flies as well as fly tying hooks and
materials, and they recently got better! Umpqua’s brand new, state of
the art headquarters in Louisville, Colorado marks another paradigm
shift in the way fly tying business is done. From its vast warehouse to
its specially designed inventory management and tracking system, Umpqua
is poised to continue its energetic trajectory and lead the way for the
next generation of flies and fly tyers.
Umpqua on Umpqua
"As you may or may not know, we're the
largest producer of quality hand-tied flies in the world. We also make
available through your local fly shop a wide array of the finest
fly-tying hackle and Tiemco hooks.
At Umpqua we offer
everything the angler needs to a have a first class fishing experience.
(Everything that is, but the water and the fish.)"
Umpqua on Dennis Black and the “Obvious Quest”
“The idea
first took shape in the hands of our founder, Dennis Black, back in
1972. As a fast and facile professional fly tyer, Dennis was known for
his skill and speed at producing hundreds of dozens of flies each year
for the larger mail order houses. But he was also quick to realize how
fast the demand for excellent flies would outstrip the abilities of
cottage industry types like him.
The Obvious Quest: To create
excellent flies in sufficient supply – without sinking his standards.
In response, Dennis developed (with characteristic care) a methodical
plan: First, he enlisted the tying expertise of the likes of Dave
Whitlock, Jack Dennis, Andy Puyans and others, to help him set the
standard of excellence for Umpqua flies.
Next, Dennis
established the first of what would eventually be five separate
fly-tying “factories,” first in India, then in Sri Lanka, and finally
in Thailand. The primary focus at each of these factories was on
producing the very best fishing flies possible, constructed of the very
best materials available. From the beginning, the quantity of flies
produced was secondary to the quality and excellence of each fly
pattern. These high standards were assured by the personal involvement
of the fly designers themselves, and by the ever-increasing skill,
imagination and creativity of the Umpqua production fly tiers. Today,
you will find no flies more skillfully tied than those available from
Umpqua Feather Merchants.
Finally, Dennis created a system of
royalty payments, to reward professional tyers like Whitlock, Lefty
Kreh, Randall Kaufman, Larry Dahlberg, and Bob Popovics for uniquely
good patterns.
The Result: Today, Umpqua produces umpteen
thousand dozen flies, from micro-scopic midge imitations to the huge
patterns favored by marlin and sailfish. And the "Umpquality" – you’ll
see for yourself.”
