Barry -
Haven't fished the CDL and starling yet, so I can't vouch for it. But I do have confidence that it will work when I get it in the water. ( Another friend from Down Under, Jeff Hamm from NZ, got me into starling, and I've had good results with other flies I've tied with it. ) Maybe tomorrow ??
The fly in the pic is not already wet.
I used a feather with a bit longer hackle than I thought was appropriate for the size of the fly. And I tend to "overdress" compared to what others seem to do.
I can't think of anything unusual about how I wrapped the starling. Tied it in about a third up from the tip and probably took five or six turns on that fly, stroking the fibers back on each turn.
One thing does occur to me - I didn't use anything for a thorax so there is no bulk behind the starling to make it stand out, it can just lay back the way it was stroked. I guess another habit I have may also account for that - I tend to wrap back over the last couple turns of a wet hackle while making a small head and before tying it off. Other than those two things ?????
Let us know if you tie some up and trick some trout.
John