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Dry fly / Pattern notes

CDC & Elk

A wrapped CDC feather supplies both body and moving fibers beneath a hair wing.

At the vise
Beginner friendly
Common sizes
#12–18
Flies for Trout
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From hook to fly

At the vise.

4 steps

Follow this base recipe in order. The materials list specifies one hook size; adjust proportions together when tying another size.

  1. Prepare

    Start thread behind the eye. Tie the CDC feather by its tip at the bend.

  2. Wrap CDC

    Wind the feather forward, allowing longer fibers to project from the body. Tie off behind the eye.

  3. Hair wing

    Clean and stack a small hair bunch. Tie it above the body with tips at the bend.

  4. Finish

    Trim the hair butts into a short head. Whip finish beneath them; keep cement off the CDC.

Beyond the bench

On the water.

Drift over caddis-feeding trout. Dry the CDC gently after a fish so the fibers can spread again.

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Recipe references

Original written instructions adapted from the sources below. Materials and methods may vary between versions.

For the same fly box.

Illustration of a finished Royal Wulff flyRoyal WulffDry fly · #10–16Illustration of a finished Stimulator flyStimulatorDry fly · #6–16Illustration of a finished Elk Hair Caddis flyElk Hair CaddisDry fly · #10–18