Cutting CDC question

[Lonnie]

Here's a quick question for all you CDC gurus (Jason, others).

How does cutting the ends of CDC affect it's floatability? Does clipping the end of the feather cause it to waterlog faster?

L

[Cary]

I'm not a guru, but sometimes I smell like one.

Pinch it off rather than cut it, like marabou. it looks better.

[Jason]

No. Cutting the ends of the fibers shouldn't affect the floatability properties of the CDC. Like Cary said, sometimes its nice to leave it a little uneven or shaggy just for the looks. The floatability also encompasses how much CDC you have on the fly and the quality of the CDC. Those micro fibers/barbs on the CDC traps small air bubbles; thus keeping the fly afloat.

[Lonnie]

Thanks guys. Just what I needed.

L