CDC Caddis

CDC (cul-de-canard) feathers contain natural oils that repel water better than any silicone floatant. A CDC wing on a caddis pattern rides flush in the film with minimal effort, producing a delicate, lifelike silhouette on slow water. Especially effective on spring creeks and the back eddies of tailwaters. Do not apply floatant to CDC — simply pick the fibers out with a brush if they get wet.

Type

dry fly (Caddis)

Hook sizes

#14–20

Target species

trout

Difficulty

intermediate

Best seasons

spring, summer, fall

Materials

• hook: Dry fly hook #14–20
• thread: Olive, gray, or tan 10/0
• body: Superfine dubbing to match hatch
• wing: CDC feather(s), tent-wing style
• hackle: Short dry fly hackle, optional 1–2 turns

Tying steps

1. Mount hook and start 10/0 thread in olive or tan; wrap to bend.
2. Dub a slim, smooth body of Superfine in the hatch color from bend to the 2/3 mark.
3. Select 2–3 CDC feathers; strip the stem bases and tie them on flat over the body as a tent wing.
4. Trim the CDC feathers level with the hook bend.
5. Optionally wind 1–2 turns of a short dry fly hackle in front of the wing for a slight lift.
6. Build a tiny head and whip finish; do not apply any silicone floatant to CDC.
7. Fluff the CDC wing fibers with a dubbing needle to open up air pockets that improve buoyancy.
8. Inspect the fly on the water — the CDC should sit flush in the surface film, not upright like a dry fly.
9. Do not apply any floatant; if the fly gets waterlogged, press it in amadou or a desiccant patch to restore flotation.