Corn-Fed Caddis CDC
Imitates: Adult caddis
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #14-18
- Best Season
- Spring through fall
- Best Conditions
- Caddis hatches, riffles, broken water, evening rises
- Water Temp
- 48-68°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 4X-5X mono
How to Rig It
Fish alone during a hatch or use it as the dry in a dry-dropper setup. Its visible wing makes it easy to track even in broken water.
How to Present It
Dead-drift with occasional skates or twitches. Caddis are active insects, so slight movement often helps rather than hurts.
Why It Works
The CDC and deer hair combination gives it a natural low-floating caddis silhouette with enough buoyancy to stay fishable, while still looking soft and alive on the surface.
History
Lance Egan's Corn-Fed Caddis reflects the competition-angler approach to dries: simple, low-riding, effective, and easy to see in real fishing conditions rather than only on a tying bench.
Pro Tip
If fish refuse a high-floating Elk Hair Caddis, switch to this. The lower CDC silhouette often matches the naturals more closely and gets eaten by picky trout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a CDC caddis different?+
CDC creates a softer, more lifelike wing and lets the fly sit lower in the film, which often looks more natural than a stiff high-floating caddis pattern.
Can I skate the Corn-Fed Caddis?+
Yes. A gentle twitch or skate can be deadly because adult caddis frequently skitter and flutter across the surface.
Not sure if Corn-Fed Caddis CDC is right today?
Get a fly recommendation based on live water temp, flow, sky, and time of day for any river in the US.
Open Fly Advisor
Map
Fly Guide