Feathers: Capes, Saddles, CDC and Hackle.

Fly dressing materials like capes, hackle, CDC, pheasant, and marabou are all types of feathers used for creating realistic and effective fly patterns. 

Here’s a breakdown of some common fly dressing materials:

• Capes and Saddles:

These come from roosters and hens and are used for hackle, which is the feather used to create movement and action in a fly. 

• Rooster Capes: Longer, shinier feathers with stiffer barbs, ideal for dry fly hackle. 
  • Rooster Saddles: Feathers with a mix of long and short fibers, also suitable for dry fly hackle. 
  • Hen Capes: Shorter, softer feathers with rounded tips, used for a variety of flies. 
• Hackle:

The feathers used to create movement and action in a fly, often taken from the neck or back of birds. 

• Soft Hackle: Feathers from upland game birds like partridge, grouse, pheasant, starling, quail, and woodcock, used for creating soft, natural movement. 
• CDC (Cul de Canard):

Feathers from the “bottom” or preen gland area of ducks, known for their exceptional buoyancy and water-repellent properties. 

• Pheasant Feathers:

Versatile feathers used for various purposes, including nymph bodies, tails, legs, and wing cases. 

• Pheasant Tail Feathers: Used for nymph bodies, tails, and grasshopper legs. 
  • Pheasant Body Feathers: Used for soft hackle, nymph legs, and tails. 
  • Pheasant Rump Feathers: Used for spey flies, shrimp patterns, hackle collars, and streamers. 
• Marabou:

Soft, downy feathers from the underside of a turkey, used for creating movement and attracting fish.