Linzay du paul, I agree that the CDC quality makes a difference and I have to say that Lucians' stuff is exceptional, I use it for all surface patterns.
I have written this before on some thread or other but for what it is worth here's my story;
Use good CDC
Apply a light coating of gel to the CDC (try and use clean fingers and ensure you do not have residue of fullers earth mix on them - I apply gel/floatant with my left and sinkant with my right hand throughout the day)
If you have to treat the fly for any reason e.g. sunk due to snagging weed or reeds, lost fish, whatever then I would dab the CDC on the jumper/ trousers blow the CC and press and primp it until it is fluffy, very easy.
The same for after you catch a fish. I used to wash the slime off of the fly and take a bit more primping time, paper towel in the pooch but it is not neccessary.
I wouldn't claim this to be true if I hadn't a fair experience of this working and last season I used this method many many times on fish caught flies. Try it.
I gave up fishing CDC flies seasons ago because they wouldn't float for more than two or three drifts depending on the flow, they would always sink when the cast was true and it was nigh on impossible to revitalise them after catching a fish, the gel has blown all that fannying about out of the water.
Iain
