CDC feathers (Cul de canard)
Selected feathers of the highest quality in different sizes
CUL DE CANARD - ONE OF THE MOST COMMONLY USED FEATHERS IN THE FLY TYING WORLD
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Cul de canard feather is taken from the duck's back in the vicinity of the preen gland. The duck uses the secretion from this gland to maintain its plumage and keep it water-repellent. Thanks to these natural properties, the CDC feathers are extremely buoyant.
Due to the extremely fine structure, thousands of tiny air bubbles adhere to the feather. Under water, these act like a real "floating hoop".
With CDC feathers of high quality, you do not need to use any additional floatant. On the contrary, they can actually impair the buoyancy of these feathers. If you rub the feather between your fingers, its fine structure will be destroyed.
WHERE AND HOW ARE CDC FEATHERS USED?
Due to its natural properties, the Cul de canard feather is excellent for tying dry flies as it greatly increases buoyancy.
There are also very interesting nymph and emerger patterns tied with CDC feathers. As already mentioned, thousands of micro air bubbles remain trapped on the extremely fine structure of the cul de canard feather. In this way, the CDC feather imitates a natural effect of real insects. This is because many of them also use finest air bubbles to detach themselves from the bottom and reach the surface. This is very attractive to fish and therefore extremely catchy.
The Cul de canard feather is very versatile and can be used to imitate many parts of the real insect, such as:
- Tails
- Legs
- Wings
- Body
- Extended body
HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT OF CDC FLIES
The CDC feather is already highly buoyant without the need for additional floatation.
To maintain this property over time, you only need to keep your fly dry with an Amadou.
Long days of fishing with lots of casts and multiple catches will of course take their toll on the CDC feathers. In such situations you can refresh and improve the buoyancy of your fly with a special floatant for CDC feathers.
However, only use special CDC floatants, apply them sparingly and do not rub the Cul de canard feathers between your fingers.
