Deer Hair Caddis

 By: Brian Stewart (www.stewartfishingco.com)

Goodhue, MN

Hook:  Standard Dry Fly Hook

Thread: Gray Danville 3/0 Monocord

Body:  Hare's Foot underfur

Wing:  Deer Hair-best hair comes from close to the belly

This is probably the easiest fly to tie in the world.   Any fur will work for the body, but I am experimenting with the Hare's Foot right now.  This material is known for its bouyancy and makes a nice, slightly shaggy body.  The deer hair should be very hollow for floatation.  Looking at a whole hide, the best hair is the brown stuff right above the white belly hair.  If purchasing pieces, look for lighter colored stuff that seems thicker and more hollow.

Dub body. Cut off some deer hair and stack it.  Measure wing so that it lines up with the back of the hook or a little longer.  Tie in using the "soft loop" or up-between-the-fingers technique.  I like to use the Danville 3/0 for this fly because its strength allows you to bear down on the hair so it doesn't spin around the hook.  After you have secured the hair with a few tight wraps, take a few turns of thread through the hair. Pull the butt ends back and take a few more turns right in front of the hair, locking it in.  The hair should now be secured very tightly and stay put after catching many fish.  Create the thread head and tie off.  Grasp the butt ends and clip them off, leaving a little bit as a head.  Cement the thread wraps.  You're done.

Drift it, swing it, skate it-it catches fish.