Fly Tying Inventory
CDC Blue Wing Olive
A modern, highly effective BWO pattern utilizing CDC (Cul de Canard) feathers for the wing, providing superior buoyancy and a natural, buggy profile in the surface film. The CDC wing traps air bubbles that mimic the shimmering appearance of a freshly emerged dun. Especially deadly during spring and autumn Baetis hatches on tailwaters and spring creeks where trout feed selectively on emerging and dun-stage mayflies.
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Materials
Dry fly hook (TMC 100, Daiichi 1140), sizes 16-22
Olive 8/0 or 12/0
Coq de Leon fibers or dark dun hackle fibers
Fine olive dubbing or olive turkey biot
Fine gold wire
2-3 natural dark dun CDC feathers, tied upright
Olive Superfine dubbing, slightly bulkier than abdomen
How to Tie the CDC Blue Wing Olive
- 1
Step 1
Mount hook and start olive thread, wrapping a smooth base to the bend.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in Coq de Leon or dun hackle fibers for a sparse tail.
- 3
Step 3
Optionally tie in fine gold wire for ribbing.
- 4
Step 4
Dub or wrap a slim, tapered olive body forward to the 2/3 point.
Turkey biot gives beautiful segmentation, dubbing gives a buggier look.
- 5
Step 5
If using rib, counter-wrap the gold wire forward and tie off.
- 6
Step 6
Select 2-3 CDC feathers, align tips, and tie in as an upright wing at the thorax position.
Do not apply floatant to CDC — it relies on natural oils for buoyancy. Floatant will mat the fibers.
- 7
Step 7
Dub a slightly bulkier thorax of olive dubbing around the wing base.
- 8
Step 8
Build a small thread head, whip finish, and apply head cement only to the thread head.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQxkaUB8_o4
Credit: Popularized by Gwilym Hughes and many European tyers