The Fly Fishing Place Black Elk Hair Caddis Classic Trout Dry Fly - Set of 6 Flies Size 14 Review (2026)

What this set includes

This is a set of six elk hair caddis dry flies, tied in black and sized 14, from The Fly Fishing Place, a company based in Summerville, Oregon that has been building fly assortments since 2005 for trout anglers across the country and beyond its home region and state. The elk hair caddis pattern used here traces back to Al Troth, the Montana guide credited with developing the pattern, and it remains one of the standard dry fly patterns for imitating adult caddisflies across trout, bass and panfish water. The company states the flies are tied using Metz and Whiting hackle on sharp hooks by professional tiers.

Why black is a useful color option

Most elk hair caddis patterns are tied in tan or olive to closely match natural caddis coloring, but a black version serves a different purpose: visibility for the angler rather than a closer match to the natural insect itself on the water. Against bright sky or heavy glare on the water, a black fly silhouette is often easier for an angler to track than a lighter-colored one, which matters for detecting strikes on a dry fly that can otherwise be hard to see at a distance or in difficult light. Some anglers also use darker patterns specifically during low light periods like early morning or dusk when caddis activity often increases.

Size 14 and where it's used

Size 14 is one of the more common sizes tied for caddis patterns, larger than the finer sizes used for late-season or selective hatches but smaller than the bigger patterns sometimes used for general attractor fishing on faster water types. That makes it a reasonable choice across a range of moderate caddis hatches on many trout streams, rivers and lakes throughout a typical season. The pattern is described as suited to searching water broadly, meaning it can be fished blind on likely-looking water even outside an active hatch, not only when caddis are visibly emerging on the surface.

Tying quality and materials

The Fly Fishing Place states these flies are tied with Metz and Whiting hackle, two names recognized in the fly tying world for feather quality, particularly for dry flies where stiff, well-formed hackle affects how well a fly floats and how cleanly it sits on the water surface during a long drift downstream. Using named hackle brands and razor sharp hooks, as the company describes, generally points to a more consistent tying standard than the cheapest mass-produced fly packs, though as with any hand-tied product some individual variation between flies is normal and expected from batch to batch.

Who should buy this set

This set suits anglers who specifically want a black elk hair caddis for its visibility advantage in bright or glary conditions, or who fish low light periods when a darker silhouette helps with strike detection out on the water clearly. It works well as a complement to a broader fly box rather than a standalone kit, since six flies in one color and size will not cover every situation on the water across a full season of fishing. Anglers needing tan or olive caddis to match lighter natural hatches, or wanting larger quantities, should look at other color and size options from the same company instead.

Frequently asked questions