Bodkin / Patterns

CDC Emerger

Emerger · Trout · Grayling · Beginner · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Curved/emerger hook, 16-22
  • Thread Olive 8/0

Materials

  • Tail/Shuck Z-Lon or Antron (trailing)
  • Body Olive dubbing (slender)
  • Wing CDC puff (single)

How to tie it

  1. Mount the curved hook, tie in a sparse Z-Lon shuck at the bend, half a shank length.
  2. Dub a slender olive body around the curve to the 70% mark. The curve puts the abdomen underwater, right where an emerger hangs.
  3. Tie in a single CDC puff at the wing position, tips up and slightly back.
  4. Tiny head, whip finish. Powder floatant only on the CDC.

Substitutions

  • Tail/Shuck instead of Z-Lon or Antron: Antron yarn (amber) — Standard shuck material; CDC fibers — Natural movement
  • Wing instead of CDC puff: Snowshoe rabbit foot — Better flotation; Small poly yarn puff — More visible
  • Body instead of Olive dubbing: Olive Superfine — Easiest to dub thin; Olive thread body — Slimmest profile for small sizes

Tying videos

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