I know CDC Olive variant sounds a little vague, but it is the only way to describe a fly which with changes to the size and if wanted the amount of tails (two or three) can for me represent the large dark, medium and blue wing olive. I’ve taken the best bits from all the old favourite olive patterns and brought them together to tie a fly which sits really well, with the cdc wing standing up just like the naturals on the water.
MATERIALS:
- Hook - Tiemco 103BL Size 17 /19
- Thread - Sheer 14/0. Dun
- Abdomen/Tail - Microfibbets. Dun coloured
- Thorax - Orvis spectrablend dubbing. Olive
- Wing - CDC feathers. Natural
- Hackle - Medium dun cock hackle
TYING:
The tricky part of this fly is, without doubt, the tail. I have seen this method of splitting the tails used by more than one of the ‘pro tiers’ so I don’t really know who to credit for it. However, after trying all the others I think this is the best method by far, and with a little care and practice it gives fantastic results every time.
1. Vice up a hook and catch in thread. Then wind on thread until level with the point of the hook.
2. Tie in two small microfibbets, making the tail the same length as the hook shank. Take care to position them on top of the hook.
3. Carry on thread until just short of the bend then push the microfibbets up with your nail.
4. Split the microfibbets making sure they do no cross over each other to form a nice 'V'.
5. Take a separate piece of the tying thread and loop it under the hook bend, between the two microfibbets. Pull the two ends of the loop up on top of the hook on top of the waste microfibbets. Tie in with two turns, gently pulling the two ends. This will part the tails and ensure they stay apart.
Pull the loop up between the tails.
Hold two ends with a couple of turns the gently pull thread to split tails.
If you are happy with the tail (make sure if pinched gently they return to shape) then tie in both the separate thread and the waste microfibbets back up the hook towards the eye.
Trim off the waste and then build up a slight taper using turns of the thread. Leave thread at the eye end of the taper approximately two thirds up the shank.
6. Take a very small pinch of dubbing, wind down towards tail. Take care not to wind over tails spoiling the ‘split’. Rib thread back up over dubbed area and leave a point where dubbing stops.
Dub
Rib back over dubbing
7. Select two or three CDC feathers for the wing depending on the size of the hook. Make sure tips are aligned then tie them in tight to the dubbed abdomen making the wing the same length as the hook shank. Trim off waste, then tie in making sure to lift the wing with a couple of turns behind as well as on top.
8. Tie in the hackle in front of the wing, which should be smaller than the wing (about three quarters of the size). Leave thread just short off the eye.
9. Wind two turns of the hackle behind the wing which will ensure the wing sits up, then a further two or three more in front.
10. Tie in hackle then whip finish. Using a needle apply a small dap of varnish to finish.
Nearly finished.
Optional, but I think necessary, trim off fibres underneath fly so it sits in film.
I like to give the cdc a lifelike wing shape by giving them a slight trim at the back. Although be careful not to overdo it as this will leave a short stubby wing ruining all your hard work!
All done... ready to go
Another view
The Finished Fly
LOOK OUT FOR THESE:
- Take your time splitting the tails, practice on larger hooks until you are happy with the process.
- Leave yourself enough room to whip finish if the hackle is too close to the eye it all gets a bit messy.
- Take care not to over trim the wing if in doubt leave alone.
SUMMARY:
I tie CDC quill olives which are more suited to tricky fish, especially bigger grayling, but I find these are sometimes nothing more than 'one cast wonders' when it comes to the CDC wing getting wet. By using the dubbing on the abdomen and protecting the CDC wing with the hackle, I find this pattern far more durable.
You can contact Warren via email or call him on 07771 558 028.