Caddis, Elk Hair Female

The Female Elk Hair Caddis typically includes a small yellow or orange egg sac at the end of the abdomen, imitating an egg-laying female caddisfly. This version triggers feeding instincts in trout, especially in the post-hatch phase when females return to the water to deposit eggs.

History:
Tiers began modifying standard Elk Hair Caddis patterns with added egg sacs in the 1980s–1990s. The visual cue helps differentiate it from spent or emerging adults, and it’s especially effective in slower water where trout can inspect flies more closely.