From its beginning as a modified Elk-hair Caddis it slipped into the slot as the go-to fly for a multitude of mayfly hatches, a general search pattern to cover hatchless periods, an emerger pattern, and a wet fly. It is a pattern deceptive in its simplicity and versatility. Over the past decade, the CDC & Elk has taken fish consistently across a multitude of waters and several continents. achieved by wrapping a Type 1 CDC feather around the hook shank. In this pattern, I combine the proven wing silhouette and buoyancy of Al Troth’s Elk Hair Caddis and the dubbed body look and straggling filaments, which suggest a multitude of components from sprawling insect legs, trailing nymphal shuck, crippled wings, etc. For me enticing fish to take a fly hinges on the concept of “triggers.” Offer a fish the appropriate positive triggers and it is more likely to think “food!”īased on this philosophy, I designed the CDC & Elk, which has become my staple dry fly, in 1992. play time, 12MB, Windows Media Player)Įvery fly fisherman has to believe in something. Step by step instructions for tying the CDC&Elk Video clip tying the CDC&Elk (4.54 min. (The materials are listed in the order they are tied in) Tiemco 102Y #11 - #17 (or equivalent dry fly hook)ĬDC feather (Type 1) (Description of the different Types of CDC feathers) Learn how to pick the best deer hair for your fly fishing creations at Bass Pro Shops 1Source.Pattern: Hans Weilenmann, Fly and photograph: Hans Weilenmann Having the right materials in your fly tying kit will help you avoid frustration and make for a more enjoyable fly tying experience.ĭeer hair is another important element for fly tying. Remember, like hooks, good thread is not something to skimp on. Take some time to practice with different thread sizes and types to find out what works for you and the pattern you are tying. You can always spot wax a part of your thread by hand if you need to dub a section for a fly body. Non-waxed threads are cleaner (they don’t pick up dirt and debris from your tying station) have less bulk, and take up glues better. The waxed threads will be a bit easier to work with when wrapping down unruly materials (the wax sticks to materials holding them in place until pressure is applied locking them down) and these threads can be dubbed without special preparation. Tying thread is available in either waxed or non-waxed varieties. Below is a table of the basic thread sizes and their general uses.Ĭlick here to see a larger veiw of t he Fly Fishing Thread Sizes and Description chart. The one exception to this rule is when tiers are creating large patterns and need a very strong thread to spin/flare hair or cinch synthetics in place tightly. The smaller the thread, the less bulk there is on the fly as you wrap down materials. When thinking about the many different sizes of threads, tiers generally lean towards using the smallest diameter of thread they are comfortable with. While Kevlar can be a bit of a bear to work with, it has its uses when it comes to large flies, synthetic materials or spinning hair. Kevlar threads are super tough with very little stretch. Nylon threads in comparison to polyester have more stretch making them easier to work with. Nylon and polyester are cheap, thin and strong, making them ideal for tiers. Silk or newer gel spun polyethylene (GSP) is also available if one looks hard enough. Nylon, Polyester and Kevlar are the most used threads by today’s tiers. Three basic thread types dominate the fly tying market. You can spin this thread to keep it tight but it is another chore that the tier has to remember. As you wrap multi-strand threads, they can fray (by hitting the hook point or having too much pressure) or separate causing the person tying to go back and correct the wraps. While multi-strand thread generally lies flatter on the hook shank (smoother appearance) than single-strand thread, the fraying or breaking strength of this fiber makes it harder to work with. Single-Strand Threads Versus Multi-Strand Threadsīoth of these types of threads have advantages when it comes to tying, but overall, single-strand threads are easier to use especially for the novice tier. Next time you’re shopping for fly tying thread, take a moment to consider thread type, size and whether single-strand or multi-strand is best. Other than the hook, fly tying thread is the most important item used in flies because it is what holds all the materials in place. Many fly tiers won’t skimp when it comes to purchasing fly tying materials such as hackles or dubbing for fly tying but never pay any thought to the thread they’ll be using.
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