CDC and Elk

The CDC & Elk is a simple, highly effective dry fly created by Dutch tyer Hans Weilenmann. Built from just two materials, a whole CDC feather wound as body and hackle, and a fine-tipped deer hair wing with the butts left as a head, it has become a favourite on trout streams and stillwaters worldwide.

Designed as a sedge (caddis) imitation, it also works well during mayfly hatches and as a searching pattern when nothing is hatching. The loose CDC fibres suggest legs, a trailing shuck and crumpled wings, and add life and movement on the water, while the deer hair wing keeps it floating well and easy to see.

How to fish it

• Dry: dead-drift it to rising fish during caddis or mayfly hatches.
• Damp/emerger: once the CDC soaks, it sits low in the film like a hatching insect.
• Wet: fish it drowned or swung at the end of the drift.

Typical materials

• Hook: Standard dry fly hook
• Thread: Brown or tan
• Body/hackle: Natural CDC feather, wound
• Wing/head: Fine-tipped deer hair

Hand-tied and quality-checked. Sold by the dozen; samples available on request.