Library · Flies
IllustrationF-Fly
Dry#16–20grey / olive / blackBest: Apr–Sep
When to use
Fratnik's minimal CDC sliver is the small-fly problem-solver: when fish are sipping and refusing everything with a hackle, an F-fly in 18–20 on a degreased 6X–7X tippet is the answer. Dead-drift upstream to the rise, singly. Carry grey, olive and black — the black doubles as a smut/gnat pattern. Dry the CDC with amadou, never gel floatant.
Imitates
Small stuff in the film — pale wateries, blue-winged olive duns, midge and smutting rises the bigger dries can't answer.
Team position
Single fly, upstream to a sighted riser.
Best methods
Dead-driftDry, static
Dressing
- Hook
- dry fly, #16-20
- Thread
- grey, olive or black to suit
- Body
- tying thread only, touch-dubbed at most
- Hackle
- none
- Wing
- one or two natural CDC feathers tied flat, tips over the bend
Marjan Fratnik's original is thread and CDC, nothing else — resist improving it.
Pairs with
Retrieve & line
- Fished dry and static — floating line
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