CDC - the best naturemade fly tying product

Swimming birds have a preen gland that produces the oil to grease the feathers. Around this gland are small feathers with very special properties. A duck yields only a few CDC feathers , which are suitable for tying.

These feathers have special properties that make them ideal for use as fly tying material.

They have a fine quill and feather branches with short, non-serrated barbs.
Their natural fat content also makes them highly buoyant.

Such feathers were first called by Charles Bickel (Vallorbe, Switzerland), inventor of the CDC fly in 1924, as "ailes grasses de la queue du canard" (greasy duck tail feather) later croupions de canard, or cul-de-canard (CDC = Cul De Canard).

Louis Veya with original "Canard du Jura"
- the duck species whose feathers were used
to tie the first CDC flies.

Original "Canard du Jura"- male left, female right.
Their natural feathers are grey in various shades (male) or khaki/ cream (female).
Only one in 50 males has tigered CDC feathers.

The success of the CDC flies, as those of the famous Swiss tiers like Bickel, Veya and Ioset was based on that material.

When tying CDC flies, you should not waste your time with inferior CDC feathers.
Unfortunately, there are too many bad feathers from slaughtered ducks (too young to have good feathers) on the market, sometimes even goose feathers are sold.

Swissflies CDC feathers are obtained from adult animals only.

You need first quality CDC to make these wonderful fine flies, which catch fish where other flies have no chance, especially in these chalk streams, where the big trout have enough food and have time to inspect in detail the flies they take.

Each Swissflies natural CDC pack contains more than twice the amount of feathers than any other CDC = twice as many top flies due to the low weight of the individual feathers due to the fine quill base!

Swiss CDC feathers, tigered, Jura mountains, Switzerland (collectors card). Click to enlarge.

Worlds most rare CDC: Swissflies tigered CDC

Selected tigered feathers from the last remaining Jura ducks.

In the colors nature was giving: these cul-de-canard feathers have white and black stripes.

Very limited amounts available.

Selected feathers mounted on a card with a description on the back- for your collection

Orders are processed in order of receipt

Any income generated will be used in its entirety to preserve the original duck breed!.

Swiss CDC feathers, tigered, Jura mountains, collection on card

Menge/ quantité/ amount

Tigered CDC, collectors pack, 5 selected feathers CHF 98.00

Swissflies natural CDC

CDC fly "Moustique du Jura, jaune"

One of the first CDC flies and probably the most successful ever made (Ioset, Swiss Jura region). This fly caught several thousands of trout and grayling- and continues catching them.

Swissflies natural CDC

Fine natural cul-de-canard feathers as used on our own Swissflies CDC flies

Natural material- just as you get it from the duck. Due to the small feather stem, these CDC are best for all kinds of CDC, but especially for making even fine and very fine small CDC down to size 24 or below.

Non selected feathers. Contains all sizes of feathers. May contain also some soft fibers (very good for CDC wet flies!) and single feathers in white, cream or tigered.

Very limited amounts available, packed in bags by 1g or as bulk packs 2g or 5g

Menge/ quantité/ amount

1 g CHF 18.48 2 g Bulk pack CHF 29.10 5 g Bulk pack CHF 59.00

Swiss CDC feathers, cul-de-canard natural beige, Jura mountains, Switzerland
(Swiss Dublin khaki Campbell CDC)

Parachute CDC Light Cahill

Swiss Dublin Khaki Campbell CDC

Natural CDC feathers . Untreated, in the colors nature was giving: these cul-de-canard feathers vary from a fine cream to a beige- brown.

Best for imitating all light CDC flies like Light Cahill, CDC Cream Sedge and many other patterns.

Very limited amounts available.

Orders are processed in order of receipt

Menge/Farbe quantité/couleur amount/ color

0.5 g CHF 18.48 1 g CHF 29.10

For collectors only: very rare, last stock from the old feather types - Original historic Swiss CDC feathers- the real "croupions de canard".

CDC feathers Jura "le Duvet" natural Dun color

Swiss Jura Dun CDC-"le Duvet" Ioset

The original CDC feathers from Alice Ioset-she called them "le Duvet".

Natural Dun color, best for imitating the wings of subimagos of mayflies with darker wings like BWO and many other .

Very limited amounts, available only for collectors

You can still find the original Jura CDC on the original old flies of Veya, Ioset, Bise and Dublin.

CDC feathers Jura "Dublin Dun" natural light brown- grey Dun color

Swiss Dublin Jura Dun CDC

Very fine CDC feathers, best choice of the Swiss CDC expert Urs Dublin .

Natural light Dun color, best for fine CDC flies. Tie size 22 CDC with ease! Because of the ultrafine stem, you get hundreds of feathers. 0.5g contain more feathers than any 1g bag!

You can still find the original Jura CDC on the original old flies of Urs Dublin .