Waterfowl Feathers Turned Fly Fishing Flies

Will Poston for SPLIT REED

So, you’ve just shot a pile of ducks and geese and breasted them out. First-off, make sure to check out some great waterfowl recipes that utilize all cuts of the bird. From there, you’ve got a carcass and a full coat of feathers. Most of the time, these remnants of the bird get tossed out, which is a big mistake. There are still so many uses to get the most out of each bird, including tying flies out of waterfowl feathers.

Recently, I’ve followed along with much of the hunting community to try to use as much of each harvested animal. Duck thighs, venison heart, cheek meat out of fish, it’s all high-quality protein that is too often discarded. Well, outside of consuming as much of the animal as possible, I’m also working towards using as much of the animal’s inedible parts, too. As an avid fly fisherman, that means tying more flies than I know what to do with. Also, fly tying a great activity to keep you busy  through winter once waterfowl season wraps up and before spring fishing and turkey fire up!

The avid fly tyer uses all types of fur and feathers to perfect their craft and catch more fish than the guy next to them–or at  least have a prettier and memorable fly than the guy next to him. Most tyers spend considerable sums of money for their materials–of which most hunters discard. So, before you throw away that duck or goose carcass, think if you have any fly tying friends who could use some feathers or maybe you have some interest in tying flies for yourself!

Here are some great uses for those piles of ducks and geese!

Duck Flank Feathers

These feathers usually start around the duck’s leg and continue to somewhere below the wings. They will usually be a little over an inch in width, have a very tapered quill, and sport a teardrop profile. Many fly tiers palmer–the technique of wrapping the feather around the hook shank–flank feathers to create a body and profile for the fly. The goal here is to mimic the shape of a baitfish or insect while maintaining lifelike movement. To harvest these feathers, carefully pluck the feathers off the body and remove the down, fluffy part of the feather.

Duck CDC Feathers

Cull de canard (aka CDC)  feathers are prized among fly fishermen, dry fly purists specifically, for their natural buoyancy. While relatively rare, each bird only yields 10-25 CDC feathers, waterfowler’s can amass quite the stockpile over a season. And whereas most people will only look for these feathers on ducks they can also be found on geese too.

CDC feathers are found near a duck’s tail. Specifically, they are found below the preen gland, which produces the oil that makes these feathers so buoyant and sought after. To harvest the CDC feather, simply find the gland and delicately pluck the feathers; the larger the bird, the more CDC feathers you’ll find. These feathers are best suited for: making bodies or wings, palmering bodies for micro streamers or saltwater shrimps, dry fly bodies, making para-axes for emergers, and making hackle for wet flies, emergers or even nymphs

Goose Biots

Another favorite among fly tiers, biot feathers come from the short side of a goose’s wing feather and are an essential component to some of the most popular trout flies. These little fibers hold their shape remarkably well, making them very useful for tiny flies that are irresistible for many trout. Biots are used on prince nymphs, copper johns, and stonefly nymphs–patterns which consistently catch trout in a variety of conditions. To collect this widely-used feather, just snip some wing feathers and slowly peel the shorter fibers off the stem–try to peel slowly to keep the little ‘tab’ on the bottom. The little tab will be a useful anchor point when fly tying.

So, this season, think about saving some of these feathers. Whether you’re an avid fly tyer or have never fished with a fly rod, this is a way to get more use out of your birds. Your fly tying friends will thank you for the quantity of useful feathers you can supply them with, as store-bought materials can be pricey! Additionally, get creative! Having caught fish on flies that used materials I harvested, it is a truly awesome feeling! Let’s see some of your creations and any other uses you’ve found for duck and goose feathers!

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