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CDC EmergerEmergerintermediate

Rocky Mountain West

CDC Emerger

$3.50

Available Sizes#14 - #22
Color Variations
OliveTanGrayRusty Brown

CDC -- cul de canard -- comes from the oil gland area of a duck, and it floats without chemical assistance because evolution is a better engineer than any fly tier. This emerger hangs in the surface film like a mayfly stuck between one life and the next, and trout eat it because vulnerability is apparently delicious. It is the most elegant solution to the selective trout problem, provided you do not apply floatant and ruin the natural oils. Which you will do once, and only once.

Quick Facts

TypeEmerger
Difficultyintermediate
SeasonsSpring, Summer, Fall
Target SpeciesRainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout
Sizes#14 - #22
Best LocationsHenry's Fork, ID; Missouri River, MT; Frying Pan River, CO

Where to Fish It

Henry's Fork

ID · Spring Creek

Missouri River

MT · Tailwater

Frying Pan River

CO · Tailwater

Map unavailable. Locations for CDC Emerger: Henry's Fork, ID; Missouri River, MT; Frying Pan River, CO

Related Reading

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The Complete Guide to Mayfly Hatches

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Caddis: The Underrated Hatch

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Midge Fishing: The Tiny Flies That Save the Day

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Emerger Patterns: Fishing the In-Between

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Fly Selection: A Decision Tree for Every Situation

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Nymph or Dry? The Decision That Changes Everything

Ninety percent of a trout's diet is consumed subsurface. Yet ninety percent of the magazine covers show a dry fly floating on calm water. The decision between nymphing and dry-fly fishing isn't about preference — it's about reading the situation and making the choice that puts your fly where the fish are actually feeding.

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