CDC dry + dropper rig for Itchen
Beginner’s guide: CDC dry + dropper nymph on River Itchen
Rig components
This rig pairs a buoyant CDC dry fly as a strike indicator with a submerged beadhead nymph. Use a size 16 CDC dry fly at the leader end and a size 14–16 beadhead nymph 12–18 inches below. Tie the dropper with a clinch knot to an 18‑inch tag off the tippet knot. The CDC dry often attracts surface takes while the nymph fishes seams for sub‑surface strikes.
Line, tippet and rod
Start with a 9–10ft #3–5wt rod matched to a lightweight reel. Use a 9–11ft tapered leader to 3X–5X nylon, adding 2–4ft of 4X–6X fluorocarbon tippet for stealth. Keep total rig length around 12–15ft for tight‑line feel on clear Itchen water.
Reading seams & presentation
Target 1–3ft wide current tongues where riffles feed slower glides—beats near Martyr Worthy and below Winchester are classic. Cast upstream at a 45° angle, mend to achieve a drag‑free drift of 10–20ft, and twitch the CDC subtly to imitate trapped insects. Low, clear flows demand the lightest tippet sizes.
Step‑by‑step tying
Clip the leader 18in above the tippet knot to form a dropper tag, thread the beadhead nymph onto the tag, tie the CDC dry to the leader end with an improved clinch, and check knots and drift before fishing.
Recommended: tungsten bead nymphs