Tying a CDC Spent Caddis with Davie McPhail

As the evening rise processes, the Spent Spinners and Caddis having completed their cycle drop on the surface making an easy meal for hungry trout to gulp down at their leisure. These spent insects have wings splayed out flat on the water, in this pattern, Davie uses CDC feathers for the wings, providing a wider profile as well as making it much more delicate to splay out rather than using Deer or Elk hair. Fished static on a well-degreased leader this is a great fly to try as the sun is setting on any river with Caddis, Upwings and Sedges floating around.

All of the materials needed to tie this fly are available from Glasgow Angling Centre as listed below, but as always, if you need any help finding materials or substitutes then we'll be happy to help. Time to tie the CDC Spent Caddis fly, with the guidance of Davie McPhail.




Materials Used:
Hook: Tiemco 2487 size 14 Thread: Uni-8/0 Rusty Brown Body: Dark Cinnamon CDC Feather or Dubbing of a similar colour. Wing and Thorax Cover: Dark and Light Cinnamon CDC Feathers or Deer Hair of a similar colour. Horns: Bronze Mallard Fibres Thorax: Dark and Light Cinnamon CDC Fibres or Dubbing of a similar colour.

Additional materials: Additionally, Davie made use of Varnish, which he applied to the thread after completing the fly.

Davie's preferred type of whip finish tool can be found HERE!