CDC, or Cul de Canard, is a popular material used in fly tying, particularly for creating realistic and practical dry flies and emergers. The term comes from the French word for “duck’s bottom,” as CDC feathers are harvested from the preen gland of a duck, which is located near the tail area. This unique source gives CDC its desirable properties.
Characteristics of CDC:
- Floats Well: This is the main appeal for fly fishers! CDC feathers are light and are excellent at trapping air, giving them a natural buoyancy, making them excellent for floating flies.
- Soft and Lifelike Movement: The structure of CDC fibres makes them soft and flexible, providing a natural movement in the water. This gives the impression of life that can trigger a fish’s instinct to take.
- Versatile: CDC can be used in a variety of fly patterns, including dry flies, emergers & nymphs (see below). It can also be used as dubbing material or in the wing sections of flies for added realism.
- Color Variety: CDC comes in a wide range of colours, allowing fly tiers to match specific hatches or create unique patterns.
CDC is also an excellent material for nymphs. It’s often used on nymphs with tungsten beads, as when wet, it sticks together to form what resembles legs or other natural features and has superb movement.
Examples of flies tied with CDC –
F- Fly
Duracell Nymph
Shuttlecock Emerger
