Beginner’s Fly Tying: CDC Elk Hair Caddis (In-Person)

The pattern chosen for the October Beginner’s Fly Tying session is the CDC Elk Hair Caddis. Fall water temperatures make caddisfly patterns such as the CDC Elk Hair Caddis a perfect candidate for fishing some of our local streams. Just as adult caddis flies can expertly travel the waves and are very tempting for trout, the CDC Elk Hair Caddis is the ideal fly pattern to use in the cooler and more turbulent waters of the fall.

The CDC Elk Hair Caddis is quite similar to the standard Elk Hair Caddis but differs in that the underwing (under the elk hair) is CDC which stands for cul de canard (French for butt of a duck). And because of their structure and water shedding properties, incorporation of the CDC feathers provide additional buoyancy to the fly.