History
CDC's history in fly tying and fly fishing begins in central Western Europe in the 1920s with the dry flies used by fishermen living in the Jura Mountains between France and Switzerland. These patterns, generally referred to as Moustique patterns, remained unchanged until well into the late 1970s. A generic Moustique pattern features a cock-hackle tail, a slender body of wrapped raffia or thread (later the patterns were tied with silk floss) ribbed with silk thread of a contrasting color, and a CDC collar.
In the 1980s similar flies continued to be tied and fished across Western Europe. Sometimes tiers would omit the tail, but they retained the CDC collar and at times combined it with a second material such as cock hackle.
In 1980 Marjan Fratnik, a tier from Slovenia, designed the F Fly. This simple, elegant, and deadly fly was a radical departure from how CDC was used. For this caddis imitation, Fratnik stacked two or three CDC feathers and tied them in at the eye of a thread-covered hook shank with the feather tips facing over the bend. He then trimmed the feather stems short at the eye of the hook and the wing length to the proportions and angle he desired. The F Fly triggered renewed interest for other uses for CDC in a growing number of European tiers.
Between 1985 and 1988, Gerhard Laible wrote a series of articles covering a range of techniques and patterns using CDC for the German fly-fishing publication Der Fliegenfischer. Laible complemented his articles with the first book focusing solely on this material, CDC Flies, published in Germany in 1993.
Dutch tier Hans van Klinken (originator of the Klinkhamer Special) turned CDC upright with his Once & Away pattern in 1988. The Once & Away has since spawned a host of patterns, generally referred to as Shuttlecock flies, which continue to be popular in Western Europe, especially with stillwater anglers. Shuttlecock designs are excellent ascending midge patterns for lakes and tailwaters.
While many European tiers contributed to the development of CDC techniques, Fratnik, Laible, and van Klinken rank as among the first. Another European tier I place in this small group is Switzerland's Marc Petitjean, who is perhaps the best-known proponent of CDC techniques and patterns today. Some of the techniques he either originated or made known to a wider audience are the use of a full CDC feather rolled into a noodle, tied in by the tip, twisted, and wrapped as a naturally tapered body (1985), his elegant and innovative use of CDC to make split wings, and in 1992 the mental leap to incorporate CDC in subsurface patterns. Since then the range of Petitjean's patterns has expanded to cover terrestrials, leeches, crustaceans, salmon and steelhead flies, and saltwater patterns.
By the late 1980s the first signs of CDC in North American contemporary fly tying became visible. In 1994 the English version of a French book by Jean-Paul Pequegnot, French Fishing Flies, appeared as the first book on the American market with references to CDC and CDC flies. It was followed by Darrel Martin's Fly-Tying Methods (1987), which devotes a half page to CDC, and Micropatterns (1994), in which a section on CDC provides the first in-depth description of its properties. The book lists over a dozen patterns incorporating CDC, an indication of its growing popularity among tiers.
René Harrop's landmark article in the July 1991 issue of Fly Fisherman put him at the forefront of North American CDC proponents and helped popularize CDC in the States. A second prominent North American tier who has been developing techniques and patterns using CDC is Colorado tier Shane Stalcup. Between them, they have come up with a number of imaginative and effective patterns.
[Note: Marc Petitjean, a CDC aficionado and one of the key people in modern development of CDC flies, conducted much of the research into the early use of CDC. His research and that of other angling historians and tiers, as well as over 100 CDC patterns from several continents, has been published in Tying Flies with CDC: The Fisherman's Miracle Feather by Leon Links (Stackpole Books, 2002).]
Hans Weilenmann lives in the Netherlands, but visits the U.S. often for fly-tying demonstrations and shows. His website is www.danica.com/flytier/.
A.A. Outfitters
Full service, fully stocked flyshop located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
Allen Brothers Quality Fishing Flies
Quality is more than just a word. We use Daichii hooks and all our beadheads are tied with tungsten. Check out unique variations on a lot of the classics, plus our original patterns!
Angler's Pro Shop
The finest products the fly fishing industry has to offer.
Bighorn Fly and Tackle Shop
Montana's premium fly shops, lodging and guide service. We're dedicated to helping you experience the best Montana has to offer.
Bob Henley's TIE-A-FLY
19 traditional patterns. TIE-A-FLY kits have all materials needed to tie them, instructions/illustrations, a pre-tied fly to use as a model.
Gary LaFontaine's "The Book Mailer"
Every angling book & media in print—10% off 3 or more. LaFontaine fly patterns & materials.
FREE anti-catalog.
Crystal Fly Shop Online Store
Quality products at reasonable prices from Winston, Elkhorn, St. Croix, Galvan, Solitude, Idylwilde, Chota, etc. Many items 15-35% off.
Custom Fly Rod Crafters
Fly rod building components, tools & supplies.
Dan Bailey's Online Fly Shop
Outfitting fly fishermen since 1938. Equipment & information to make your next fly fishing trip be a memorable one.
|
|
Fly Fishing Flies & Gear
Shop RiverBum.com for premium FLIES and GEAR from Simms, Sage, Fishpond & more ... Free Shipping on orders over $25!
FlyShack.com
High quality, hand-tied flies. Assortments from $.60/fly. Great selection and excellent service. Free Shipping.
FlyShopCloseouts.com
Now—new and expanded—with much more brand name fly fishing tackle and gear at huge savings. Save 30-50% on quality brands you will recognize in an instant.
Galloup's Slide Inn Online Fly Shop
Full online store offering cutting-edge flies, equipment, and the best streamer selection found anywhere in the U.S.
Hills Discount Flies
Fly shop quality flies at wholesale prices. Over 1,000 patterns. Check out bargains in "Hot Deals" section.
Hooked On Flies
65¢-69¢ a fly. That's 3 flies for less than the retail price of one fly. 450+ Trout Fly Patterns!
Madison River Fishing Co.
Spring is coming! We have TONS of new gear this year. Cloudveil, Simms, Sage, Under Armour, Vosseler Reels and lots more. Click or call 800-227-7127 for catalog.
**Reelflies** - Fly Fishing Flies
Offering incredible prices on top-quality Trout Flies: $0.49 - $0.79. Our flies have great fly illustrations . . . what you see is what you get!
www.ShopUltimateAngler.com
Your steelhead and smallmouth specialists featuring Simms, Sage, Patagonia, Orvis, guide services, local fishing reports and more!
|
Log In