I doubt that any cdc that has been processed...dyed, etc. has any oil left.
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I doubt that any cdc that has been processed...dyed, etc. has any oil left.
I will add another vote for the Marryat tool. I'm new to fly tying but tie a number of CDC Caddis. I was wasting too much material until I started using the tool.
Betty - do you apply the CDC Oil prior to using the fly, after it has been waterlogged, or both? I'm currenty in the chamois/wonder cloth dry then apply frog's fanny camp. It works well but I'm always looking for options that may be better.
regular gel floatants such as gink will work with cdc feathers if applied very sparingly.
I use the CDC oil before casting the first time. Usually after the fly has been whacked a couple dozen times :p I'll dry it off on a chamois, and re apply. It only takes a minute amount to keep the fly up for extended periods. When you strip it from the water, you'd swear it'd never been wet. It only starts sinking after copious amounts of fish slime have been applied ... by fish!!
Ducksterman, after they dye the CDC they reapply the oils to the plumes. Natural CDC is either white or grey.
I have tried oiler plumes but frankly they are too small and messy (small and fiddley) to use. I am sure they have their place and their followers but I am not one of them.
If you use CDC flies, F flies or shuttlecocks etc. Then like Betty says use the CDC oil. You only need apply it very seldom during a session. CDC floats like a cork.
I would NOT apply normal floatants, gink or the like, cause even sparingly they will stick down the fine fibres and the fly will not work properly.
well mick, you can't be applying the gink sparingly enough ;) as I have found that it works just fine.
I usually use two feathers on small flies (or two pieces of one feather--tip then the next segment towards the butt), four on large flies or flies I want to float high. For flat water I tie flies that are more sparse, for choppy water I like them full.
Experiment and see how much it takes to achieve your purpose.
"Ducksterman, after they dye the CDC they reapply the oils to the plumes. Natural CDC is either white or grey."
Thanks Mick, didn't know that.
There's a "fair" book I've got called "Tying Flies with CDC" by Leon Links. It's heavy on the European development and use of CDC in tying flies. That's not a criticism, just an observation. These folks were the innovators and first users of CDC (at least according to the book). Anyway, the books a decent read and had some pretty good information on the feather types, tying techniques, etc. Has some great photography but it's a little thin on some details and can be incomplete on tying instructions for some of the examples. The upside is, it can be had fairly inexpensively.
As far as treatments I've found nothing better than Frogs Fanny or the less expensive version, Fumed Silica (available by the quart for the same price as the little Frog Fanny Bottle!). Although, I am intrigued by Betty's reference to CDC Oil. Might have to try that out.
John Scott turned me on to a Caddis pattern that I like (thanks John) and in size 16's it seems to work best with three feathers. I think CDC ties some pretty cool flies and I intend to try some experimentation with nymphs and more emerger patterns from the above referenced book.
I've found the tread pretty interesting, good job folks!
FYI ...
RENE HARROP CDC DRESSING
Item # HC450 $5.95
RENE HARROP'S "NATURAL CDC FLY DRESSING" This is the original floatant/dressing for CDC flies and delicate dry flies made from real preen-oil. The best for levitating those deadly CDC emergers in the surface film.
And, John's fly!! OMG!!! That is one of the kewlest flies I've tied and used in a long time!! Add a half a drop of the oil to that one and watch that puppy float ,,, between massive strikes!!!