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WWFF:
What everyone else said...
My initial CDC experience was similar UNTIL I added more CDC and started using Frog Fanny on the CDC puff.
I tie an emerger created by Shane Stalcup that uses D-Rib for the body. Nothing floats WORSE than D-Rib except maybe lead. In any case when I use these flies I do like gqualls and apply Frog Fanny on the CDC and the float I get is amazing, even in faster water.
As a result; despite the claims of CDC float-ability, I ALWAYS hit the puff with FF.
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I second the use of Frog's Fanny. That stuff does a great job on CDC.
CDC is not a magic life preserver for flies. It's just a material that has natural oils to make it water repelent, and it's many barbules will trap a lot of air. (note: fur from a snow shoe rabbit foot has similar properties and is much more durable than CDC, look for a fly pattern called 'the usual' or BUM 'Bob's Usual Emerger.)
CDC comes in may grades and sizes and shapes. It could be that the CDC you have used is of a lower grade, or is not ideal for your application. Each size and shape CDC feather has it's own uses.
I find it takes more CDC to float a fly than it does with good hackle. I tie the CDC flies fairly bushy. I can always trim them back stream side if I need to.
Did you use a paste floatant? CDC doesn't respond well to liquid or paste floatants. The air trapping fibers get matted down and stop working. Use the Frog's Fanny.
The floss could be the problem, some floss will suck up a lot of water, try sealing the floss body with light coat of cement, or coating it with a paste floatant, just don't get any on the CDC.
Tails have a lot to do with floating ability. Make sure you are using good stiff tail fibers. Soft, weak or poorly shaped tails will sink a lot of bugs.
I am also suspect of the 'in the sink' tests. Some years ago I tried an experiment to see if pre-treated flies lasted longer. I tied up a half dozen flies, treated them each with a different floatant (leaving one untreated as a test case) I then placed them in a jar of water and waited. To my surprise they were all floating several days later, even the untreated one. Since this didn't mesh with my streamside experience I decided that gently placing them on top of the water was not simulating real life. So I started again, giving the jar a little shake, all of the flies sank like rocks. My conclusion is that the 'at home' tests don't really match the stream side conditions enough to give accurate results.
I think the real advantage of CDC it that you can dry a soaked fly more quickly. A few false casts and the fly will float again, you don't need to stop fishing to dry things out and apply floatant.
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thanks all, will tie some more using your advice
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Were they dyed or natural? Don't forget that to dye feathers they are first cleaned and degreased which can cancel out the natural oil. They then depend on the tiny barbules, branches of 'fluff' to trap air. They will still float but once wet they will not 'bob' back up. As others have said the tight compact floss body, or the not using enough CDC,.. isn't helping the situation. Try something else for the body, fine dubbing or, wrap some thin foam strips.
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Hans Weilermann wrote a wonderful article for fly fisherman.com "Tying with CDC", about CDC and the four different type of feathers, that can be called CDC. Each type of CDC feather has a different use in fly tying.
[url=http://flyfisherman.com/ftb/hwcdc/:30e77]Han's Weilermann's "Tying with CDC" article[/url:30e77]
A while back, I converted the "Tying with CDC" from the above site to Adobe PDF format. If anyone wants a copy, I can transfer the file through an email. You can contact me at...
parnelli@comcast.net
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If you discover that your CDC feathers are the problem, checkout Harry Mason (bones) website, http://www.troutflies.com/. He sells quality CDC feathers.
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I really don't think your body material has anything to do with the none floatability of the fly. Your tail may be too short, but your CDC is probably the cause. Remember that what floats a catskill pattern is the tail and hackle. They spread the weight of the fly on the water as to not break the surface tension. On this style fly you actually want your body in the surface tension or below. That is what makes the fly more "realistic." You are relying on the tail and Wing for floatation. Try dunking your CDC feathers to see if they absorb water. If they do, that is your problem. Good luck.
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Another twist with the CDC. You might see it mentioned if you read Hans' article or look up his pattern "CDC and Elk". Using that fly as a concept, I tie up a pattern similar to the one you mention, but with a wrapped CDC body, and use either CDC or snowshoe rabbit for the wing. I also tie my Usuals with the wrapped CDC body rather than the dubbed one. Another thing I do when using CDC for a wing on a dry or an emerger. Rather than tie in the whole feather, I strip the barbules off the stem and tie the bunch in just like I would deer hair.
Here's an example of one that I tie up though this one doesn't have the CDC tied in like deer hair.
http://www.danica.com/flytier/jcaruso/w ... _midge.htm