F fly -Too much CDC?

[Phil-k]

I have been tying up some F Flies for next season and I have been using lots of CDC for the wings so my flies float really well.

My question is ;Will using too much CDC in the wing spoil the fly?

[Chris Reeves]

I think it depends on what you want the fly to do.

I like my F flies to sit in the film and so tie them with no more that 3 feather tips. I use the smallest feather I can find and I don't trim the tips either just line them up and tie them in.

I also use just two wraps of thread for the body , black, olive or yellow. I haven't found the need for any other colour.

Tied with a bigger bunch of clipped feathers as yours are, I think the flies will be too bouyant to get the real F fly effect. That said they will no doubt catch fish. The other drawback in using a big bunch is that once wet it is more difficult to dry a thick bunch than a few feathers.

I wash the fly. blow it dry and then squash it between 2 sheets of Amadou. Then I blow on it again and if looks OK cast it back in. If not repeat the process without the washing unless you didn't get all the slime off first time.

I have tried all the shakes etc but this method works best for me.

I use a heavier CDC wing in Shuttlecocks or Haystack type flies but again I don't clip it, just align the tips. CDC is a delicate material and looks much nicer in the raw.

Hope this helps, Cheers

[3lbgrayling]

I was watching a flytying video this morning and the tyer used 10 CDC plumes fo his shuttlcock flies,

Jim

[Spider]

I'm with Chris on this.

For Olives etc, I think 3 CDC is enough, as most olives we tie will be between size 14 and 18.

I agree with the thread too - I tend to use Pearsalls (only ) in Yellow and Olive and Black.

I tied a few flies in size 16/18 last year with one feather and they didnt work well for me.

Perhaps if you want a sedge style fly with a bigger wing, then 4 or 5 might help but I'm no sedge expert.

If you fish smaller rivers , use a Griffiths Gnat instead of a Black F Fly ....its a classic in smaller sizes.

[james1983]

10 feathers eeeek . i thought using 3 was to much when i done my F-flies and some other dry fly i forgot the name off just now lol

[Mike N]

Not to mention the cost of using 10 feathers for each fly. It must be heartbreaking to lose one

I also like 3 feathers for size 18-16 and 4 feathers for 14-12.

I find this gives a nice profile - it sits in the film a bit, but you can still see it, and it fluffs out more easily after its been fish slimed.

I've been using a lot of that 'frogs fenny' stuff and its really improved the amount of time I can use the same CDC fly without having to dry it out!

[A. Fluker]

Believe the amount of feathers and the success rate is larhely down to the kind of water you are fishing and of course what the trout want!

I like that use of purple thread and have seen it mentioned a couple of times here in relation to this fly. Hope to give something very similar a swim in the new year.

Thanks for sharing.

[rookstorm]

I use three to four feathers no more, try using spider web thread or utc 70,looks like your flies are way overdressed ,sorry

[Trugg]

Yep! 3 feathers are enough for 12-16's and 2 feathers for 18's up

Mick

[dun09]

on youtube have a look at oliver edwards f-fly it should sort out your problems, they need re-tying in my eyes, they will catch fish but your tying off and thread work needs no be neater or the fly wont last aslong and it will take on water
tight lines

jay