CDC

CDC is one of my favorite materials for emergers or dry flies when tying small tiny flies. Buying hackle that small can cost a fortune, but CDC tends to be better priced.

Mighty Green Drake No.4 - Kaspar Green Drake Cripple (Danica/Guttulata)

Materials Used;
Hook, Fulling Mill Ultimate Dry size 16
Thread, Uni-8/0 White
Tail, Coq de Leon Fibres
Body, Natural Peacock Quill

The CDC Loopwing Emerger is a simple little fly that floats in the surface and is built from just a single type 4 CDC feather and a little bit of Diamond Dub or Ice Dub.

Materials Used;
Hook, Fulling Mill Ultimate Dry Fly size 16
Thread, Lt.Cahill Uni-8/0
Tail Coq de Leon Fibres
Body, Peacock Quill dyed Yellow

Materials Used;

Materials Used;
Hook, Fulling Mill Ultimate Dry size 20
Thread, Uni-8/0 Black or Olive
Tail, Coq de Leon Fibres
Body, Medium Olive CDC Feather

Olive All-Rounder Emerger/Dry Fly...

One of my favorite creek flies for trout is the CDC & Elk. This is one of my most productive variations on Hans Weilenmann's infamous original.

The Leptophlebia marginata and vespertina or sepia and claret dun are two very abundant mayflies that prefer more acidic waters like, hill lochs and forest lakes.

A simple little mayfly dun, that not only represents a blue winged olive but just with a little change in size and colour can be made to represent many other small mayflies.

This Baetis Rhodani emerger is a quick but effective pattern when large dark olives start to hatch.

Marjan Fratniks F-fly, an absolute must for any trout fisherman. This is the super simple and original pattern of this modern classic.

Hook size 16, Thread 8/0 White, Body Polypropylene floating Yarn in Olive, soft synthetic Olive Dubbing with Grizzly Cock Hackle and White CDC

Materials Used;
Hook, Fulling Mill Short Shank Special size 12
Thread, Uni-8/0 Lt-Cahill
Rib, X-small Black UTC Wire
Wing, Natural Grey Cul-de-Canard Feather/CDC

This little CDC and deer hair emerger uses a turkey biot for the abdomen and partridge for the tail. A real quick tie for a great fish catching pattern.

Detailed instructions on how to tie a WD-40 Plus.

A nice technique for making a CDC body, without coming in conflict with the under body of the fly. This makes the body fish deep under the surface but keep the wing high and dry.

Materials Used;
Hook Fulling Mill Short Shank Special size 10
Thread, Uni-8/0 Black
Tail, Dyed Black Cock Fibres
Back, Black Foam
Body, Uni-Mylar Peacock No.14

A quick and simple adult CDC caddis with a sparkle thorax and wing.

Kieran ties a CDC Emerger in this week's free fly tying video.
Buy fly tying materials here: if you can't find it at your local shop.

Extremely quick and easy to tie with only one CdC hackle, the IOBO (It Ought to Be Outlawed) emerger is a must have pattern and should be found in every trout and grayling fisherman's fly box.

Materials Used;
Hook, Fulling Mill All-Purpose Medium size 12
Thread, Veevus B15 Brown 14/0
Tail, Coq de Leon Light Speckled Fibres

This is a relatively easy semi realistic adult midge with a couple of nifty techniques.