Fly Tying Expo, Fly Tying Department, American Opossum, Fly Tying Scissors, CDC

The description "Cul de Canard" is attributed to 1950's era French tier tier Henry Bresson. In English Cul de Canard translates to "butt of the duck". However CDC Feathers surround the preen (uropygial) gland of many birds. This gland protrudes like a knob, from the back of the bird, slightly ahead of the tail. Waterfowl preen, recondition, and waterproof their feathers with oil secreted from their preen glands. As the size of the bird increases, so does the size of the feathers. While the natural oils in the feather assist in repelling water, it is the structure of the feather itself which gives it buoyancy. The fibers on the feathers trap air bubbles. Therefore CDC feathers loose their floatation when they become matted or soiled. The bubbles remain trapped within the fibers, even after they are submerged. CDC feathers are used extensively a bundles for wing posts for parachute flies, or tied horizontal for caddis wings, or looped for emerger wings. CDC is also great when wound as hackle for both dry and wet flies.

MP Select CDC Feathers
This is the best CDC we have ever seen. There is a wide selection of feather types to fit all methods of tying. Feathers range to very large sizes and some have exceptionally long fibers. White color is bleached snow white. The highly magnified picture below is intended to show you how clean and fluffy these feathers are. Stems and barbuals are very strong and pliable. Below are three steps of tying a Simple CDC Spey fly. This pattern is tied on a #5 Alec Jackson Spey Hook. It will give you an idea how these long CDC fibers can help you be more creative

at the vise. Used here is fluorescent red CDC over a body of fine purple dubbing. The CDC feather is tied in at the front and palmered back and then lashed down with a strand of oval silver tinsel. An orange dyed guinea feather is wound on in front to finish the fly. Directions CDC Spey