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What are CDC trout flies?

CDC refers to the 'Cul de Canard' feather, translated from French as "Duck's bottom".

Cul de Canard makes an ideal Dry Fly dressing as the feather is remarkably light yet strong and most importantly traps air to aid buoyancy.

CDC Feathers surround the preen gland of many waterfowl and duck. This gland protrudes like a small lump, at the back of the bird, slightly ahead of the tail. Waterfowl preen and waterproof their feathers with oil secreted from their preen glands. While the natural oils in the feather assist in repelling water, it is the actual structure of the feather itself which gives it buoyancy, the barb fibres on the feathers that trap air bubbles. CDC feathers will lose their floatation if they become matted, soiled or by the addition of gink type floatants, so this should be avoided. The air bubbles remain trapped within the barbed fibres even after they are submerged. This creates CDC's superb natural buoyancy and allows it to float beautifully without the need of artificial floatants almost indefinitely, however drying the fly with the occasional squeeze in an amadou patch, or similar is recommended.

CDC Flies are wonderful fish takers; it's the fabulously softly wispy and subtle natural feather that creates delicate highly mobile and tantalizing suggestive movement of incredibly lifelike legs of an insect.

The first recorded use of CDC's in dry flies was by fishermen in the Swiss Jura Mountains near the French border in the 1920's. They were called Moustique patterns, and remained largely unchanged until the 1970's.

In the early 1980's, Marjan Fratnik from Slovenia designed the simple and deadly classic F Fly. This innovation kick started other tiers to the wonderful properties and uses CDC has.

Dutchman and innovator Hans van Klinken used an upright CDC in his Once & Away pattern known as the much respected "Shuttlecock" in the late 1980's to the present day.

The Swiss, Marc Petitjean is probably the best-known tier and designer of CDC patterns today. Amazingly he has developed an extensive range of patterns for Trout, Salmon and Steelhead and Saltwater including Mayfly, Caddis, Midges, Shrimps, Terrestrials, Hoppers, Bugs and Streamers.

Flies relating to CDC

CDC is mentioned in 117 flies within our catalogue. Of course, there are most likely more flies relating to this, but here is just a sample of the patterns: Show all related flies

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
Shuttlecock Yellow Owl CDC
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Shuttlecock Yellow Owl CDC Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:3962

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Hook Brand
  • Dressing
CDC Hopper Black
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CDC Hopper Black Fly

From €1.27/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:2349

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Dressing
Olive F Wing
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Olive F Wing Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:2364

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Dressing
Green CDC Beetle
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Green CDC Beetle Fly

From €0.98/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:2961

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Dressing
CDC Palmer Brown
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CDC Palmer Brown Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:4334

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
Ducks Dun
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Ducks Dun Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:1978

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Hook Brand
  • Dressing
Shuttlecock Olive CDC
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Shuttlecock Olive CDC Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:2373

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Hook Brand
  • Dressing
Shuttlecock Hare's Ear CDC
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Shuttlecock Hare's Ear CDC Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:2371

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Special Offer
Parasol Buzzer
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Parasol Buzzer Fly

From €1.22/fly (based on pack of 12)

From €1.18/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:1590

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
Cranefly CDC & Elk
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Cranefly CDC & Elk Fly

From €1.27/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:3827

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Dressing
Shuttlecock Black CDC
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Shuttlecock Black CDC Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:2372

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Dressing
CDC Palmer Natural
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CDC Palmer Natural Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:4335

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Dressing
Elie's WW
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Elie's WW Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:2086

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Dressing
Detached CDC Dun Mayfly
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Detached CDC Dun Mayfly Fly

From €1.27/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:4130

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
Dark CDC Emerger
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Dark CDC Emerger Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:2184

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
CDC Midge Brown
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CDC Midge Brown Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:4293

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
Hare's Ear CDC Emerger
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Hare's Ear CDC Emerger Fly

From €1.08/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:1774

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Dressing
Black Shipman's CDC Buzzer
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Black Shipman's CDC Buzzer Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:3787

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
CDC Midge Light Brown
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CDC Midge Light Brown Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:4294

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
Baz Mayfly
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Baz Mayfly Fly

From €1.27/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:4131

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
Grey High Rider Sedge
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Grey High Rider Sedge Fly

From €1.23/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:4191

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
Golden CDC Emerger
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Golden CDC Emerger Fly

From €1.03/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:2946

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Dressing
Elie's CDC Sedge
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Elie's CDC Sedge Fly

From €1.27/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:2082

  • 1-3 days
  • Hook Size
  • Hook Brand
Suspender Top Hat Buzzer
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Suspender Top Hat Buzzer Fly

From €1.03/fly (based on pack of 12)

code:4467

Pale Morning Dun Spinner

Pale Morning Dun Spinner Fly

code:737

Black and Red tag Buzzer CDC

Black and Red tag Buzzer CDC Fly

code:781

Dry Mayfly

Dry Mayfly Fly

code:994

CDC Para Dun

CDC Para Dun Fly

code:1189

CDC Nimrod Loop Wing

CDC Nimrod Loop Wing Fly

code:1198

Morgan's CDC Loop Wing Buzzer, Green

Morgan's CDC Loop Wing Buzzer, Green Fly

code:1200

Morgan's CDC Loop Wing Buzzer, Orange

Morgan's CDC Loop Wing Buzzer, Orange Fly

code:1203

Capperia

Capperia Fly

code:1249

'F' Fly

'F' Fly Fly

code:1500

CDC Dipper

CDC Dipper Fly

code:1562

CDC Shuttlecock Buzzer

CDC Shuttlecock Buzzer Fly

code:1628

CDC Olive Shuttlecock Buzzer

CDC Olive Shuttlecock Buzzer Fly

code:1629

CDC Claret Shuttlecock Buzzer

CDC Claret Shuttlecock Buzzer Fly

code:1630

Black CDC Tubing Buzzer

Black CDC Tubing Buzzer Fly

code:1631

Green CDC Tubing Buzzer

Green CDC Tubing Buzzer Fly

code:1632

Red CDC Tubing Buzzer

Red CDC Tubing Buzzer Fly

code:1633

No Hackle CDC Dun

No Hackle CDC Dun Fly

code:1773

Black High Rider Sedge

Black High Rider Sedge Fly

code:1790

CDC Biot Comparadun Pale Morning Dun

CDC Biot Comparadun Pale Morning Dun Fly

code:1951

CDC Biot Comparadun Quill Gordon

CDC Biot Comparadun Quill Gordon Fly

code:1952

CDC Biot Comparadun Female Trico

CDC Biot Comparadun Female Trico Fly

code:1953

CDC Biot Comparadun Male Trico

CDC Biot Comparadun Male Trico Fly

code:1954

CDC Biot Comparadun Blue Winged Olive

CDC Biot Comparadun Blue Winged Olive Fly

code:1955

CDC Tailwater Dun Pale Morning Dun

CDC Tailwater Dun Pale Morning Dun Fly

code:1956

We are only showing you the first 48 flies; Show all 117 patterns