Cul de canard (CDC) (French for “duck bottom”) are the feathers from the back of a duck directly around the preen gland (uropygial gland); they are very buoyant due to preen oil produced by the preen gland. They are used when tying dry flies for fly fishing.
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How do I pick CDC feathers?
The most important difference between long, medium and short CDC feathers stays in how are the stems. Long feathers=stiffer stems. Short feathers=fine and more elastic stems. In our tying world you will find CDC from goose, swam and duck birds.
Do geese have CDC feathers?
Geese have larger feathers that is better suited to some of the dubbing loop techniques for CDC feathers. They are more like what you find in most fly shops for CDC. How to harvest CDC feathers: Hans Weilenmann did a much better job describing and demonstrating how to harvest CDC feathers than I can.
Do you use feathers for fly fishing?

Where do CDC feathers come from?
Cul De Canard (or CDC) is one of the best feathers on a duck for fly tiers. It is found near the duck’s preen (urogypial) gland, which releases oils that a duck uses to help waterproof his feathers.
How do you use CDC puffs?

What is a CDC in fly fishing?
CDC, or cul-de-canard, is the soft, fluffy material that comes from around the preening gland of a duck or goose. Despite its fluffy nature, CDC really does float pretty well, and a lot of folks use it when tying emergers and the like.
What duck feathers are used for fly tying?
The duck species that are mainly used in fly patterns are wood duck, mallard, and teal. All these feathers have long soft fibers, they can have barring (though how much barring depends on the species of duck), and are lightly colored.
What is a UV2 fly?
Spirit River now has the ability to process tying materials and build unique flies with both UVF and UVR enhanced materials. Hence the name UV2! UVF is the FLUORESCENT wave length in bright colors we know and see in materials or paints which allows fish to see flies and lures at a much greater distance.
Where does CDC come from on a duck?

How do you preserve duck feathers?
Put them directly into a freezer that is set at zero degrees Farenheight or -18 Celsius (colder is even better). Leave them in for at least 48 hours. Take them out for a day and then put them back in for another 48 hours.
Where does Coq de Leon come from?
Coq De Leon feathers are from a specific region in Spain. Originally these birds were from a monastery and they were intially raised in or about 1620. The coq de leon fibers are stiff, glassy and have long straight fibers. The colors of the birds may be divided into browns ( or pardos) and also grays ( indios).
Can you use chicken feathers for fly tying?
Just like the CDL Rooster Capes and Saddles, the hen pelts have various uses. The feathers can be used to tie nymph wing cases and legs, and even used for larger soft hackle flies along with tying on collars. Additionally, capes can be used for matuka-style fly patterns.
What are CDL feathers?

How do you preserve turkey feathers for fly tying?
Soak the feathers for about 10 minutes, drain them into a colander, rinse them over with clean water, and then lay them out to dry. Once dry, place the groups of feathers into separate ziplock bags or storage containers for easy organization and to prevent pests (and pets) from getting to them.
What are CDC Oiler Puffs used for?
Puffs are ideal for wings and tails. Good for smaller flies also. Feathers contains CDC oil which makes those water repellent. Use in dry flies.
Where is the preen gland on a duck?
The preen gland (PG) is a holocrine gland located at the base of the tail that produces preen oil that is distributed through the feathers by the duck’s bill (Moreno-Rueda, 2017).
What are duck feathers?
Waterfowl have three types of feathers: contour, flight, and down. Contour feathers collectively serve as a protective outer shell. Each feather is composed of a central shaft with a continuous series of paired vanes that line up on opposite sides of the shaft.
How do you dry out a CDC?

How do you tie CDC wings?

How do I apply for CDC oil?
To use, simply add a drop straight onto your fly or you can add a drop onto your index finger. Then rub with your thumb and gently stroke the fly through your fingers to add the oil. This oil is designed for use specifically on CDC flies and is the best one to use.
What feathers are best for fly tying?
The best fly tying feather material for them is a teal flank, and soft hackle hen is very popular.
Can you use quail feathers for fly tying?
Quail feathers are primarily used for making soft-hackle collars on wet flies, and legs and wing cases on nymphs. Due to their diminutive size, however, quail feathers are usually limited to tying very small flies.
What do brown feathers mean?
So what does it mean when a feather is brown? A brown feather can symbolize someone who lives freely but is grounded, stable and well-balanced.
What is the best UV light for fly tying?
- Hareline Universal UV Cure Light. $13.99. 1 review.
- Loon UV Nano Light. $19.99. 2 reviews.
- Loon UV Fly Tying Kit. $79.99. 3 reviews.
- Loon UV Infiniti Light. $59.99. 1 review.
- Loon UV Bench Light. $39.99. 2 reviews.
- Solarez Pro Roadie UV Kit. $62.99. No reviews.