CDC & Elk Caddis

Curtis - August 11, 2011

This classic caddis pattern was originated by Hans W Weilenmann, a great fly tyer from the Netherlands. The beauty of this pattern, in my opinion, is its ability to gently skim the surface of the water when given a twitch. This is a very similar action to a caddis adult skittering on the water. In addition to the added motion the flowing CDC fibers give it on the water, it also floats very nicely and is relatively durable. The CDC fibers also multi-task as legs, antenna, wings etc so they serve many purposes when it comes to imitating caddis flies. Also, because we're dealing with CDC, you typically don't want to treat the fly with gel-based floatants, so instead dress the fly with dessicant to restore is flotation. So give this pattern a try. It's simple, effective and deserves a place in your caddis fly collection.

Material List
  • Hook: Firehole Sticks 419 Dry Fly - 12
  • Thread: UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier - Wood Duck
  • Body: Nature's Spirit Stripped Wild Turkey Barred Biots - Brown Olive
  • Thorax: Super Fine Dry Fly Dubbing - Cinnamon Caddis
  • Wing: Nature's Spirit CDC - Brown
  • Hackle: Whiting Hebert Miner Full Saddle - Bronze - Medium Brown Dun
  • Tools Used: Tiemco Hackle Pliers - Standard, Fly Tyer's Z-Ment
Materials & Alternate Materials Listed Below
UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier
UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

UTC Ultrathread 70 Denier

$2.49
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge
8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge

8/0 UNI-Thread Waxed Midge

$3.50
Nature's Spirit CDC
Nature's Spirit CDC
Nature's Spirit CDC

Nature's Spirit CDC

$3.50
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0

Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 12/0

$3.50
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread
Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread

Danville 6/0 Waxed Flymaster 70 Denier Thread

$3.49
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0
Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0

Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread - 8/0

$3.50
Wapsi Super Fine Dry Fly Dubbing
Wapsi Super Fine Dry Fly Dubbing

Wapsi Super Fine Dry Fly Dubbing

$2.25
Fly Tyer's Z-Ment
Fly Tyer's Z-Ment

Fly Tyer's Z-Ment

$7.95
Nature's Spirit Fine Natural Dubbing
Nature's Spirit Fine Natural Dubbing
Nature's Spirit Fine Natural Dubbing

Nature's Spirit Fine Natural Dubbing

$2.75
Firehole Sticks 419 Dry Fly
Firehole Sticks 419 Dry Fly

Firehole Sticks 419 Dry Fly

$8.35
Fulling Mill 35050 Ultimate Dry Fly Hook, Barbless
Fulling Mill 35050 Ultimate Dry Fly Hook, Barbless

Fulling Mill 35050 Ultimate Dry Fly Hook, Barbless

$13.25
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing
TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing

TroutHunter Dry Fly Dubbing

$3.95
Hanak H 130 BL Dry Fly Hook
Hanak H 130 BL Dry Fly Hook

Hanak H 130 BL Dry Fly Hook

$8.95
Gamakatsu R18-B Multi-Purpose Hook
Gamakatsu R18-B Multi-Purpose Hook

Gamakatsu R18-B Multi-Purpose Hook

$6.95
TMC 100BL Barbless Dry Fly Hook
TMC 100BL Barbless Dry Fly Hook

TMC 100BL Barbless Dry Fly Hook

$9.60
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing
Beaver Plus Dubbing

Beaver Plus Dubbing

$3.25
Hanak H 100 BL Dry Fly Hook
Hanak H 100 BL Dry Fly Hook

Hanak H 100 BL Dry Fly Hook

$8.95
Ahrex 501 Traditional Dry Fly Hook
Ahrex 501 Traditional Dry Fly Hook

Ahrex 501 Traditional Dry Fly Hook

$8.25