A sparse wing, a soft collar or an emerger sitting in the surface film: CDC earns its place at the tying bench by doing a lot with very little material. If you are exploring the Semperfli CDC range at Fyne Tackle, the main choice is between Natural CDC in a 1g box, Pro Grade CDC in a 30-feather pack and Pro Grade CDC in a larger 1g box.
Here is how the three options compare, and where each could fit into your next tying session.
What is CDC, and why use it?
CDC stands for Cul de Canard. Its fine, branched fibres trap air and create a soft, mobile dressing. That combination makes it particularly useful for dry flies and emergers designed to sit in or close to the surface film.
It is not just a wing material. CDC can also be used for posts, bodies, thoraxes and soft collars. Its delicate fibres add movement without needing a bulky dressing, making it useful for sparse river flies as well as stillwater patterns.
Semperfli Natural CDC Feathers: a versatile boxed option
The Semperfli Natural CDC Feathers – 1g Box contains loose feathers in a protective box rather than a compressed packet. This gives the delicate fibres room to retain their shape and keeps the material together between tying sessions.
Choose from Natural White, Natural Light Gray and Natural Dark Gray. These shades offer a useful starting point for subtle wings, emerger dressings and soft collars.
Try this option for dry-fly and emerger wings, parachute posts, twisted or dubbed bodies, and mobile legs or collars on nymphs and wet flies. It is a practical choice if you want natural shades for a variety of patterns.
Semperfli Pro Grade CDC: 30 feathers for focused tying
The Semperfli Pro Grade CDC Feathers – 30 Feather Pack contains 30 large feathers, approximately 5.5–6 cm long. They are graded for consistent size, usable stems and well-formed fibres.
Long fibres give you room to work when forming wings and posts, or using split-thread techniques and dubbing loops. Pattern ideas include F-Flies, shuttlecock emergers, caddis and sedge wings, and mayfly emergers.
The listed colours are Orange, Pink, Natural White, Medium Olive, Cinnamon and Dark Olive. We would start with this pack if you want to try a particular colour or tie a focused batch before choosing a larger supply.
Semperfli Pro Grade CDC: a 1g box for regular tying
If CDC is a regular part of your tying, the Semperfli Pro Grade CDC Feathers – 1g Box gives you a larger supply of graded feathers.
The feathers measure approximately 5–6 cm, with an average of around 110 feathers per box. That figure is a guide, not a guaranteed count: this option is sold by weight.
Choose from Brown, Natural White, Black and Medium Olive. The consistent size and fibre quality are useful when repeating wings, posts and collars across a run of flies, with less sorting between patterns.
Which Semperfli CDC option should you choose?
For natural shades and a broad mix of tying uses, start with the Natural CDC 1g box. For a particular colour or a smaller quantity of graded feathers, choose the Pro Grade 30-feather pack. For repeated tying sessions with Pro Grade material, choose the Pro Grade 1g box.
Pack size is only part of the decision. Think about the patterns you actually tie and the colours you reach for most often. A useful shade in a manageable quantity is a better starting point than filling the bench with material you rarely use.
Three ways to put CDC to work
F-Fly wings
Use CDC to create a soft, sparse wing. The aim is a delicate profile rather than a heavy bundle of material.
Shuttlecock emergers
A CDC wing is a useful starting point for an emerger dressing designed to sit close to the surface film. Natural shades and olives give you options for understated patterns.
Soft CDC collars
The longer Pro Grade fibres also suit split-thread work and dubbing loops. Use them to create a mobile collar without excessive bulk.
Find your next tying material at Fyne Tackle
Whether you are trying your first CDC patterns or replenishing a well-used tying box, choose the pack that suits your patterns, colours and tying frequency. Explore the linked Semperfli CDC products above for the individual options and current availability.