Tying the CDC Dun

 

Tying the CDC Dun

 

 

 

If the fish are taking duns, this is my first choice from the box. It lands gently on the water the correct way up, rides very high, can be seen a mile off by the angler and has a great footprint to fool even the shrewdest, pickiest of fish.

 

In the tying sequence I have used microfibbet tails. I like to add a smear of floatant to them to enhance their appearance on the surface. I find microfibbets superb for glassy glides where the footprint of the fly is much clearer. In faster runs, I am happy with hackle fibres for the tails.

 

The biggest problem I encounter with people tying with fibbets is keeping them splayed. Hopefully the technique I demonstrate here will help you to overcome any problems.

 

The CDC wing is tied here with the Petitjean Magic Tool. A simple, but extremely clever idea, it allows you to get the CDC wing absoltely perfect. I don't like to sculpt the wing too much during the tying process. I aim for longer, flowing fibres and make the necessary trimming once the flies is 'finished'.

 

When tying the wing, you'll see from the sequence, that I aim for a dense body of CDC at the thorax and lower wing. The longer fibres then allow me to shape the wing and give a much softer edge to its appearance.

 

A durable, simple fly, I urge you to give it a try.

 

For the sequence opposite, the materials I have used are:

 

Hook: TMC 103BL

Thread: Sheer 14/0 tan

Tails: Microfibbets

Abdomen: Orvis Spectrablend, Light Olive

Thorax: CDC

Wing: CDC

 

 

The footprint can be clearly seen in this photo. Notice how the wing and thorax are formed from dense CDC. However, the longer fibres soften the overall appearance.

 

 

 

 

These examples follow the same theme, however use Coq de Leon for the tails. These fibres are excellent for tailing, exhibiting wonderful barring throughout each barb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the great things about the 'CDC Dun' is that you can change colour and size to match many of the hatch situations you will meet. Here are a couple of variations:

 

The first is a bigger pattern, tied on a size 10 (Partridge SUD). The body is formed from a turkey biot and, in this case, the tails are honey dun rooster hackle fibres:

 

 

 

 

However, the pattern transfers well to smaller sizes too. The follwing example is tied on a size 20 (Partridge SLD). This time the fly is tied with a dubbed body as in the tutorial. I am using Coq de Leon fibres for the tails:

 

 

 

 

 

Now both together, so you can appreciate the difference in size - and hopefully the versatility of the dressing:

 

 

 

The following fly is tied with a body of turkey biot. For me information on tying with biots, please follow the link: 'Tying with Turkey Biots'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cast on the thread...

 

... and catch in the fibbet tails. Keep them on the top of the hook.

 

Use your finger nail to splay the tails. Just run your nail into the back of the fly.

 

The tails should be neatly splayed. However they will not stay there without some support.

 

Take a length of tying thread and wrap it around the hook bend. I have used orange here so it is more obvious.

 

Now pull the loop of thread upwards. The middle tail should be between the thread loop. The outer tails should be outside the loop.

 

You can see the position of the tails here with regards to the thread loop.

 

Change the thread loop colour to get a different hot-spot.

 

Tie down the thread loop.

 

Using green floss can make an excellent egg sack.

 

Dub the body from head to tail. Aim for a neat tapered shape

 

Spin the thread to form a rope and then wind through the dubbed body to give a rib and segmented effect.

 

Use the Magic Tool to collect your CDC fibres. Trim the thick stem away.

 

Unwind the thread (spinning the bobbin anti-clockwise) and split the thread with you dubbing needle.

 

Insert the CDC. I like to have the thread 2/3 of the way along the fibre with the neat, trimmed edge closest to the thread.

 

This should afford you a dense base to the wing / thorax.

 

 

Now start to wind the wing forwards. With each thread wrap progress towards the eye. Use you free hand to coax the fibres backwards and upwards.

 

With care, the majority of the CDC will be on the top of the hook. Wind a few turns of thread to form a small head.

 

Whip finish behind the eye.

 

Make sure you un-spin the bobbin before making the whip finish, or else your thread will furl and create a knot as you draw it through.

 

Now draw down the excess, loose fibres on the underside of the fly and, with one cut, remove them.

 

Check the tails are in place and the fly is finished.