Library · Flies
IllustrationCDC Olive Dun
Dry#14–18oliveBest: Feb–Jun, Sep–Oct
When to use
The first-choice river olive dry: the CDC wing lands soft, sits low and reads as a fresh dun on clear limestone water. Fish it upstream, dead-drift, singly, degreasing the last foot of tippet. Size to the hatch — 14 for spring large dark olives, 16–18 as the season's olives get smaller. When it's refused, drop a size before you change pattern.
Imitates
Upwinged olive duns — large dark olive in spring and autumn, medium and small olives through the season.
Team position
Single fly, upstream.
Best methods
Dead-driftDry, static
Dressing
- Hook
- dry fly, #14-18
- Thread
- olive
- Tail
- coq de leon or blue dun cock fibres
- Body
- olive dubbing or stripped quill
- Hackle
- none — the CDC is the wing and the float
- Wing
- natural CDC, bunched upright
Do not gink CDC; dry it with amadou and powder floatant.
Pairs with
Retrieve & line
- Fished dry and static — floating line
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