emerger
CDC Emerger
The CDC Emerger exploits the natural oil in CDC (cul de canard) feathers to hang a sparse mayfly emerger perfectly in the surface film. The loop wing and trailing shuck create an exact imitation of a mayfly struggling to emerge from its nymphal shuck — the moment when trout feed with the least caution.
Variants
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History
CDC patterns originated in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland and France, where anglers discovered that the preen gland feathers of ducks naturally repelled water. CDC emerger designs became widespread in European fly fishing by the 1980s and reached American tyers by the 1990s.
Tying overview
Tie a Z-lon trailing shuck, dub a sparse body, and loop a CDC feather over the thorax as a wing that sits in the surface film.
Fishing tips
Fish the CDC Emerger dead drift in the surface film during mayfly hatches. It is particularly effective when trout are refusing conventional dries — they're likely feeding on emergers stuck in the shuck. Dry the CDC between fish by false casting, never by squeezing.