Just finished tying up some emergers for a swap on another forum and thought I’d contribute a CDC loop emerger. I believe that the ‘emerger’ in all its forms is a more important than a dun pattern. A good emerger imitation, regardless of species must have certain triggers:

The nymph’s body or trailing shuck (depending upon how advanced the emergence is)

The body of the emerged dun

The unfolding wing and splitting wing buds

The appearance of a struggle and life. After all it must be hard work.

This fly hopefully brings to life all of these:

Materials (in the order they are tied to the hook):

Hook: A long, shallow emerger hook. Try a K14ST. This is a Viper Living Nymph #16 (with a very, very long shank).
Thread: Sheer #14 grey
Rib: UNI-mylar pearl #16
Abdomen / Shuck: Pheasant tail fibres (3?)
Wing base / case: Zelon (Caddis tan)
Wing: Natural CDC (2 or 3 feathers)
Dubbing: Awesome Possum, brown

1) Catch in thread and the rib:


2) Catch in the Pheasant with two wraps of thread and bring the thread back to 2/3 of the shank:


3) Wind the pheasant forwards and catch it in. Wind the rib:


4) Catch in the Zelon. I like to leave it long at this stage:

You can use poly-yarn or Aero-dry etc. I like the crinkled fibres of the Zelon.

5) Tie in two or three CDC feather. Blue or pink all make nice alternatives. Secure the butts of the feather, dub the thread and form a tapered thorax - the emerging fly:


6) Pull the CDC forwards. I like to try to pull a little of the Zelon forwards too. Let some of the CDC fibres stick out behind. Trim the Zelon so it sits just beneath the wing:

We all strive form a neat head. I like to leave the stumps of the feathers sticking up to make the head of the fly more busy. Form a neat whip finish under these and behind the eye.

More important is the fish-eye-view:


For me it has the trigger points. Lots os scope to change size, and colour to match caddis, mayfly olive hatches etc.

I guess the fish have the final say

Cheers,

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

well i looks the part anyway im sure their will be many fish tacken on this one in the new season ,very nice and keep them coming i love to see people putting up their flies..

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dont you just love nature

Thanks UFM.

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

thats a very nice sbs mate

andy

Thanks Andy.

As I mentioned, I really think the possiblities are endless with this pattern.

Cheers,

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box

Hi Dave, like the look of that. Have you given it a run out at all. I guess not. Would be interesting to hear how it fishes.
Do you see it as more of a river fly than still water?
Cheers,
Mark

Hi Mark, CDC loop and paraloop both fish well - right in the surface film and gives a great footprint. I have never fished this on stillwater though - I am sure it would still work.

It may be hard to see at distance. Perhaps fish it with a more obvious dry and strike when you get a rise near by???

One thing to add... If you're fishing the cdc and it gets a little water-logged and sinks, fish it anyway. A sunken emerger won't go to far down and will look like a crippled, drowned fly. If it happens (on rivers) just watch the leader and you'll see the take. You may even see the fish head and tail over it.

Cheers,

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Dave Wiltshire

River Fly Box