Bodkin / Patterns

Micro CDC Cripple

Nymph · Trout · Grayling · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Standard dry-fly hook, 18-22
  • Thread Olive 8/0

Materials

  • Zelon or Antron Amber/tan zelon or antron (few fibers for shuck)
  • Fine dry-fly dubbing Olive or grey fine dry fly dubbing (small pinch)
  • CDC feather Dun cdc feather (1-2)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread at mid-shank and run to the bend.
  2. Tie in a sparse trailing shuck of Zelon fibers, half a shank long, at the bend to imitate the nymphal husk the cripple can't shed.
  3. Dub a slim, tapered abdomen forward to the 65% mark, keeping it thin.
  4. Tie in one or two CDC feathers by the tips at the 65% mark and stand them up as a short emergent wing, no longer than the shank.
  5. Dub a small thorax in front of and behind the wing to prop it upright.
  6. Whip finish behind the eye. No cement on the CDC; keep it dry and buggy.

Tying videos

← All fly patterns