CDC Fly Fest: Olive CDC Emerger
This month we’re bringing you not one, not two, not three, but five caddis-type flies by Romanian fly tier Lucien Vasies. That’s right, it’s a CDC Fly Fest!
We’re kicking off with Romanian fly tier Lucien Vasies’ Olive CDC Emerger. Over the next installments, we’ll look at his CDC creations—flies that prove just how versatile and deadly this material is in the right hands.
We start with a true confidence fly: the Olive CDC Emerger.
Why CDC Emergers Earn Their Place
CDC (Cul de Canard) has long been a favourite among tiers and anglers for its natural buoyancy and lifelike motion. For emergers, there’s nothing better. The soft, oily fibres hold just the right amount of water, letting the fly sit in the surface film as if it’s caught between two worlds—exactly what trout are looking for.
- Natural silhouette – The fibres imitate emerging wings and trapped shucks.
- Reliable buoyancy – Floats low, right in the feeding zone.
- Adaptability – Effective across hatches and conditions.
Hook Choice: Curved vs. Straight
For emergers like this, Lucien leans heavily toward curved hooks. That arc gives the fly a bent, struggling profile — more like a real insect breaking free of its casing. Trout notice the difference. Straight hooks can still work, but the curved shape adds that subtle realism selective fish can’t ignore.
Fishing the Olive CDC Emerger
Dead drift it in the film during a hatch, let it swing at the end, or give it a slight twitch — this fly looks convincing in every role. It’s one of those patterns that boosts your confidence the moment you tie it on.
This is just the beginning of CDC Fly Fest. Stay tuned for the next fly in the series from Lucien Vasies’ vise — each one built to shine in tough conditions when trout demand precision.
Materials
Original
- Hook: Varivas 2200 #14-18.
- Thread: 30DEN Sumo in A6 colour.
- Body: Belgian dubbing light olive dun.
- Ribbing: yellow glossy hair tinsel
- Wing: CDC 2-3 feathers.
- Thorax: Olive or golden olive squirrel dubbing
Fed’s Alternative
- Hook: Emerger size 16.
- Thread: 14/0 yellow or cream.
- Body: Light olive dubbing.
- Rib: Crystal thread.
- Thorax: Crystal thread.
- CDC: Natural grey.
Tying Instructions
- Start the thread and cover the hook shank.
- Tie in the crystal ribbing at the rear of the hook.
- Dub the body forward to about two-thirds of the shank.
- Rib the body with the crystal thread, but do not trim the excess.
- Select two CDC feathers and measure them so the tips extend one body length beyond the hook eye.
- Reverse the CDC feathers and tie them in at the rear of the thorax, with the butts pointing forward over the eye.
- Trim the CDC butts neatly at the front.
- Use the ribbing thread to build up a thorax over the tie-in point.
- Fold the CDC tips forward, secure them just behind the eye, and tie off.
- Whip finish and cut the thread.
