Photo: Tied for fly fishing. Naturalist Observation, c. 1912.
Fly pattern
Shuttlecock
A classic British chironomid (midge) emerger pattern. It features a thin thread or quill body that hangs vertically below the surface tension, suspended by a forward-projecting tuft of buoyant CDC feathers.
Key points
•
Hanging posture: Replicates the vertical orientation of hatching chironomid pupae as they try to break through the surface film.
•
Stillwater staple: Highly productive during chironomid hatches on stocked trout lakes when fish refuse deep pupal rigs.
•
Triggers: Natural CDC feathers provide buoyancy and realistic movement.
Tying videos
•
Tying a CDC Shuttlecock Emerger — vertical midge suspension tutorial.