CDC Puffs for tailing

All about flies Fly Tying
1

I’ve been trying to figure a tailing material for damsel fly nymphs…think I may have come up with a good one… CDC puffs…anyone used them for tailing material on anything?

2

Duckster,

Not used them for tailing, but no reason why it won’t work well.

Personally I like the little fluffy aftershaft feathers for my damsel nymph tails. I do have some CDC laying about, though, and I may try some. Perhaps the oils in the CDC will help add to the illusion of movement.

Buddy

3

ducksterman,

Question for ya - Why would you want to “waste” CDC feathers on a submerged pattern? I would use maribou, or like Buddy suggested, the fuzz from the base of feathers that you use for other stuff and would just let fall into your wastebasket anyway! Inquiring minds wanna know!!

Best regards, Dave S.

4

http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/468

looks to me like small hackle tips would be a better imitation for dragonfly tails

keep the puffs for something else

5

I agree with Buddy that using CDC might create an illusion of movement. Perhaps an EMU feather might also create that illusion.
Tim

6

A damsel nymph pattern that is popular here in NZ is to take a maraboo feather, tie it in so the tips form a short tail, then twist the maraboo into a bit of a rope, wrap that up the shank forming a thicker bulg for a thorax, rib with copper wire. Olive is popular here. You can add some weight (copper or lead wraps) if you want it to get down. Usually tied on a 2x long shanked hook.

Here’s a photo of a varient without the wing:

I suppose you could add a wing case of pheasant tail fibres as well.

  • Jeff
7

I’ve noticed that CDC, while it makes great hackle for a dry fly, loses most of it’s movement when wet. It just sort of clumps together. I believe Normand had the best idea in using small hacle tips for the tails. They would provide good movement and yet stay separated. You could also just use the old faithful goose biots.

REE

8

Interesting ,REE, I just took a puff…remember we’re talking puffs…and swirled it in some water…it clamped shut like trap and was almost rigid…until I squeezed and rolled it with my fingers…then it gave a wonderful wavy motion of each barbule.

fishdog54…I’ve got plenty…thought the size was right …like the small quill to tie in…and now I see some really good motion…however, having said that I’m not sure the tail of the nymphs actually move…but I sort of feel you can’t get too much motion for most fish.

Norm, I’ve seen some with more blunted looking tails…guess it depends…

9

then use HEN hackle tips :wink: