The loop wing — a style pioneered by André Puyans in the 1960s and since adapted to CDC by many fine tiers — traps air and floats in the film with a naturalistic silhouette. The looped CDC suggests a dun wing just pulling free of the shuck, which is exactly what selective fish key on.
1. Thread base — Attach olive thread to the hook and build a fine base to the bend.
2. Shuck — Tie in a small bunch of brown Z-Lon at the bend, extending one hook-gap rearward.
3. Abdomen — Dub a slim, smooth olive abdomen from the bend to the midpoint.
4. Loop wing — Select 2 dun CDC feathers. Tie them in at the midpoint by the tips, feathers pointing forward over the eye. Fold the feather stems back over themselves to create a loop, then tie down the butts just behind the eye. The CDC loop should stand upright roughly hook-gap in height.
5. Thorax — Dub a small olive thorax in front of and behind the CDC loop base.
6. Head — Build a tiny thread head. Whip finish. Do not apply head cement near CDC.
