Euro NymphsCDC French Jig
The CDC French Jig has burst onto the scene as perhaps the best dropper fly for dry-dropper rigs. This pattern became so popular at the Fly Fish Food shop in Idaho Falls that guides would come in and clean out the entire stock. Created by Cheech at Fly Fish Food, the combination of a pheasant tail body, CDC collar, and emerald green head creates an irresistible profile that consistently produces.
Year Round
Intermediate
Trout
Overview
The CDC French Jig combines classic pheasant tail nymph elements with modern euro-style features. The CDC collar adds subtle movement and creates a buggy silhouette that fish find irresistible. The emerald green Ice Dub head provides a striking visual trigger point while the red holographic tag adds flash near the tail. This pattern has earned its reputation through consistent performance in the hands of both guides and recreational anglers.
Pattern Characteristics
Materials
Hook: Hanak H 400 BL Jig Hook, size #14 (or Fulling Mill 5045 Jig Force Barbless)
Thread: UTC 70 Denier, black
Bead: Fulling Mill Slotted Tungsten, silver nickel, 3.2mm (or Firehole Stones 3.5mm sterling silver)
Tail: Spanish Coq De Leon, pardo (or Hareline Coq De Leon medium speckled pardo)
Tag: Veevus Holographic Tinsel, small, red (or cranberry)
Body: Ringneck Pheasant Tail, black (or Nature's Spirit muskrat gray)
Rib: UNI-Soft Wire, small, neon silver (or Semperfli Tying Wire 0.2mm bright silver)
Collar: Nature's Spirit CDC, dark slate dun (or medium slate dun)
Head: Ice Dub, emerald green (or UV peacock eye)
Fishing Tips
Season
Effective year-round as a searching pattern. Particularly deadly during mayfly activity when the dark pheasant tail body closely matches emerging nymphs.
Presentation
Fish as a dropper 12-18 inches below a large dry fly or hopper pattern. Also effective on tight-line euro rigs. The CDC collar provides subtle movement even in slower water, triggering strikes from wary fish.
When to Use
Deploy when you need a reliable dropper that consistently produces. Excellent on both pressured and unpressured water. The combination of natural materials and attractive trigger points appeals to a wide range of feeding behaviors.
Water Type
Excels in all types of moving water from riffles to slow pools. The slim profile and weighted bead allow the fly to sink quickly while the CDC collar creates movement that attracts fish in slower water.
Rigging Suggestions
Fish on 5X-6X fluorocarbon tippet. Ideal as dropper below hoppers, stimulators, or other large dry flies. In euro rigs, use as point fly or dropper depending on water depth.
Visibility & Floatation
The tungsten bead provides quick sink rate while the silver nickel finish adds subtle flash. The emerald green head creates a visible hotspot. CDC collar traps air bubbles and creates lifelike movement.
