Bodkin / Patterns

Hi Viz Pink CDC & Elk

Dry Fly · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, Tiemco 100 / Daiichi 1170, #12-18, #12-18
  • Thread Tan 8/0 / 70 denier

Materials

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, Tiemco 100 or Daiichi 1170, #12-18 (1)
  • Thread Tan UTC 70 denier (or Semperfli 8/0 tan) (-)
  • Body / hackle One natural grey CDC feather (Fulling Mill CDC or equivalent), tied by the tip (1 feather)
  • Wing Natural cow/mule elk hair, cleaned and stacked (small bunch)
  • Hi-vis post/wing accent Fluorescent pink poly yarn or fl. pink Antron (small tuft) (few fibers)

How to tie it

  1. Lay a thread base from just behind the eye to the bend. This is Hans Weilenmann's CDC & Elk with a fl. pink sighter added for visibility.
  2. Tie one natural grey CDC feather in by its tip at the bend, shiny side toward you, leaving the whole feather forward to be wound.
  3. Clip a hackle plier on the CDC butt and palmer the feather forward in open, evenly spaced turns to about the 75% point, stroking the fibers back each turn so they sweep rearward like legs/shuck. Tie off and trim the stem.
  4. Clean and stack a small bunch of natural elk hair; measure it one shank-length long. Tie it in at the 75% point with the tips pointing back over the body to form the wing, using 2-3 pinch wraps then several tight turns to flare and lock it.
  5. Lay a few fibers of fluorescent pink poly yarn on top of the elk wing (tips even with the wing tips or standing slightly up) and secure with 2 turns to add the hi-viz marker.
  6. Trim the elk butts at a slant to form a small head, build a neat thread head over the butts, whip finish and cement. The pink tuft rides on top so you can track the low-floating fly.

Tying videos

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