Product Description

CDC (cul-de-canard) feathers are one of the most popular fly-tying materials. CDC's water-resistant properties make it particularly useful for tying dry flies, emergers, and nymphs, especially in small sizes. Tying Flies with CDC brings together the CDC patterns and tying techniques of creative, innovative fly tiers from around the world. The book gives background on CDC, how it was used in the past and how it is used today, and details aspects of fishing with CDC flies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #567165 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 2495 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780811700399
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Leon Links is a fishing journalist and teacher in Amsterdam. He was first introduced to CDC in the early 1980s by fellow Dutch author and angler Kees Ketting, and has since become and enthusiastic convert to CDC flies.

Customer Reviews

Great History, Good Patterns
Who would have thought that preen-feathers would turn out to become such a fine addition to the tools of the flytyer? The Swiss & French are the culprits!

This book starts with a fine historical review and moves on to a number of excellent patterns and techniques. CDC dubbing is nicely addressed and it is a very valuable component of the book. Overall, it is a fine addition to any flytier's library.

There are a few areas that the book could have covered, and perhaps should have covered - but didn't. I don't know why - perhaps the editors limited what could be included - because I have no doubts about Mr. Links' skills and interest in the subject.

I would love to see more patterns and some newer techniques covered in this book.

For the last five years I've owned and used a tool of Japanese origin (sort of a three-pin bodkin) designed to allow a tyer to strip a hackle stem of all CDC plumes in a matter of seconds. I've seen the tool for sale (albeit with Japanese instructions) in many flyshops in the US, Europe and Canada and the exclusion of the tool mystifies me. Mr. Links uses the paper clamp / scissor / dubbing-loop method to transfer plumes, and he hand-strips or wraps or lashes the feathers - but simple strip-tie posts / wings are still more complex to tie than they need be.

Still, this is a fine work, and I strongly recommend it.

Good but more detail would have helped
The book was a good addition to my library, unfortunatelly some of the tying stepts and more difficult techniques were not well explained, if explained at all.

there is some hockey stuff about US tyers and our presumed inability to pronounce the French languatge that seems to be a bit strained and inappropriate.

overall nice pictures of flies, could have use less anecdotes and biographical material and more technical discussion

Fraud
Do not buy this book if you plan on learning any tying tricks with cdc. Only a few tying instructions are illustrated, and these are eigther very basic or simply bad patterns. There are only a couple of pictures of decent flies, without any further tying techniques revealed. Many of the flies covered in this book have prooven themselves as excellent patterns in their original state. Not all patterns were meant for cdc! On the other hand it seems like a lot of emphasise is put on the historical aspect of cdc emerging as a fly tying material. I really don't see how that is going to help me tying flies with cdc.