How to Tie the CDC & Elk

Producer: Tightline Video

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Here’s a great video from Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions in which he teaches you to tie a cool, buggy variation on the classic Elk-Hair Caddis. It’s quite an easy pattern to tie, but as usual, Tim offers some very specific tips to make things even easier. I especially love the way he locks down both the CDC feather and the deer hair to make the fly more durable.

CDC & Elk
Hook: Standard dry-fly hook (here, a Lightning Strike DF1), size 16.
Thread: Tan Semperfli Classic Waxed, 12/0.
Body/legs: Tan or natural dun CDC feather.
Wing/head: Bleached deer hair, short/fine, cleaned and stacked.
Tools: Hackle pliers, hair stacker.