Andrija Urban
Yugoslavia (Serbia) & Macedonia

Andrija is a native of Yugoslavia and Macedonia, where the first artificial fly was reportedly invented.  He is a professional fly tier, fly angler, and journalist, with over 500 articles published on fly fishing and fly tying topics.  

He participated in the Slovenian International Fair from 1988 until 1992.  He won four awards.  In 1989 the flies were: Prvenka – Baetis rhodani CDC Olive Emerger and Patkova pupa – Philopotamus montanus CDC Cream Caddis Pupa.  In 1990 they were: Kobilica Olive Hopper and Patkova sivomaslinasta pupa – Polycentropus flavomaculatus Bubble CDC Grey-Olive Caddis Pupa.  In 1991 the fly was: "Tanja" - streamer (not indexed).

Andrija's flies were featured in books by Darrel Martin, Taff Price, Mladen Merkas Goranin and personal friend Dr Voljc.  He is also a friend of  fly fishing journalist, Edgar Picenbauer, who uses his flies for fishing.

His hobby was wood carving.  After injuring the forefinger and middle finger of his left hand, he had to invent new methods of fly-tying.

Andrija's motto:  Every fish is ''fly-fishing'' fish and fulfills more than three wishes.  

The photo at right was taken on the 30th anniversary of Andrija's pilot career.  With his comrades he spent many lovely and dangerous years .

The photograph below is the upriver section of the river Radika in Macedonia.  It was Andrija's river of his dreams.

Although Andrija was not fluent in English, his good friend and fly angler, Dr Dimitrovski, with whom he had spent wonderful fly-fishing moments on different waters, helped him translate enough to communicate.  

In Andrija's words...

"Distinguished fly tiers, I, Andrija Urban, now and old fly-fisherman, after grace and divine punishment, have decided to present my artificial flies.  They were created under different influences.  Now they are a mixture of traditionalism and a contemporary approach to fly-tying and imitations.  I am still ashamed because of some failures and creative misleading.

Select one of Andrija's flies below:

Bubble CDC Olive Emerging Hatching Pupa (Group 2)

Bubble CDC Suspender Olive Midge (With Instructions)

Bubble CDC Suspender Pale Yellow Midge Pupa

CDC Claret Velvet Pearl (Group 2)

CDC Cream Pupa

Bubble CDC Grey-Olive Caddis Pupa

CDC Emerging Mayfly

CDC Grey Emerging Pupa

CDC Hatching Claret Dun (Group2)

CDC Hatching Surface Cream-Yellow Dun

CDC Olive Emerger

CDC Orange Hatching Dun

Grayling’s Pale Evening Emerger

Grey Hopper

Olive Hopper

Orange Yellow Hopper

Orange Olive Hopper

Red Brown Hopper

Surface Hatching Caddis Pupa

Bubble CDC

Olive Emerging Hatching Pupa (Group 2)

Pet name: Pahuljasta maslinasta pupa

Tier:  Andrija Urban

Hook:  #10 to #16.

Thread:  Pre-waxed brown.

Tag:  Bright green Antron dubbing.

Body:  Dark olive Antron dubbing.

Rib:  Fine gold wire.

Wing:  Two CDC tied in at left and right of the tag end and looped over the fly.

Hackle:  A few fibers of partridge tied beneath (optional).

Thorax:  Brown Antron dubbing.

Head:  Brown.

This fly is quite similar to the CDC Grey Emerging Pupa except for color, materials, and the presence of partridge hackle.

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Bubble CDC

Suspender Olive Midge

Pet name: Maslinasta CDC trzalica

Tier:  Andrija Urban

Instructions Below

This is a favorite creation of mine (1990) for care-free days on the lake from April to September.

Hook: #10 to #18.

Thread: Pre-waxed golden-olive green.

Respiratory Filaments: White CDC feather tied "loop" method (described below).

Tag: White colored floss (Floss).

Rib: Narrow Mother-of-Pearl tinsel (or silver).

Body: 2/3 golden olive-green Rayon fibers and 1/3 green Antron.

Thorax Hump: Pale yellow hare fur.

Head: Golden olive-green.

Note: Pay attention to the Rayon fibers. When they are cut in 1 cm length and compound with the antron, and softly dubbed while wet, gives the creation of an "alive" transparency which is needed for a good imitation of Midge pupas.

The CDC material used for the respiratory filaments, and the manner of tying, should make the midge unsinkable. By the reason of floatability you needn't use additionally floatants.

The correct position of the midge, as it falls on the water, should be floating and give a glassy silhouette. This is obtained through good visibility of white duck CDC feather.

Midges are for selective fly-fishing, when the midge pupas are helpless under the surface of the water. The feather by using the "loop method" is a "gentle" solution. You should now be prepared to understand this important characteristic.

Cul de Canard

I discovered the use of cul de canard (CDC) feathers for tying flies while fishing the River Krka of Dalmatia in 1964.  The CDC was tied in a local pattern called Supljak, which translated means "Duck Cloaca," the vicinity of a duck where the feather grows.  Since that time, I have treasured my fly models as "secrete weapons" and have worked to improved them, sometimes with more and sometimes with less enthusiasm.  They have undergone certain changes while seeking perfection but I do not think I have reached that point, yet.

I researched in an attempt to discover when CDC was first used for flies in my country but even the oldest generations of fly anglers couldn't remember it's discovery.  It was before their time.  

A few models of my creative fly models were displayed at a 1987 show in Ljubljana.  Dr Voljc was there and only examined them superficially.  He only commented that they were "interesting."  I then sent him some more models and requested he test them while fishing the Thymallus, where I lacked experience.  I respect Dr. Voljc's opinion and was hoping for his approval.  He made ordinary comments but the praise came in March 1989, when he published an article about them in his magazine, Ribic.  My "secrete weapons" were no longer secrete. 

Scroll down for Instructions.

This is a method rather than a pattern, so select the materials you desire.

"CAPTURED" BUBBLE CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM

Look at the picture above and you will see several unusual things that are needed to tie my midges, imitating pupas under the water's surface.  

There are some bent hooks, white duck CDC feathers, and a piece of plastic pipe (tubes).  You can use an electric wire isolator and a polished wooden dowel.  It is also important to choose feathers with a strong stem. 

The CDC loop, that "captures" a good bubble of air, is made with the help of the plastic tube and wooden dowel.  This solves the problem of proper floating position of midges.  The "Suspender Loop Midge Pupa" can float several days and maintain the characteristic of a natural's position.

INSTRUCTIONS

Start at the eye of hook and build the shape of the head with thread (as shown).  It must be big enough to be able to separate the CDC feather from the shank. See picture at right.

Then, pull a good quality CDC feather through the plastics tube, extending about 1 cm to tie to hook.  Secure its convex part downward (pictured at left) on the built up thread. 

Then tie the desired tag, rib, body, etc., as desired.  I have used my favorite material in describing this tying step.

I must underline that the body and thorax material should be as soft as possible.

Do the "Loop Method" with a piece of wooded dowel as mentioned before.  It's maximum diameter depends on the size of hook.  For the size of 10 it's from 5 to 5.5 mm., for 12 it is 4 to 4.5 mm., 14 needs 3.5 mm., 16 needs 3 mm. 18 needs 2 mm., and for 20 it is 1,5 mm.

Tying a good loop is a delicate procedure.  Hold a small piece of wooden dowel with the tip resting on the hook shank so you can wrap the CDC around it.   When the CDC feather is wrapped to the extent desired, secure the tag end to the shank near where it was first tied in.  Cut the remainder away.

Prepare the material for the thorax and wrap behing the loop.  You can dub the thread in a whip finish know as shown to eliminate the thread from showing.  You must be sure to use the proper quantity of material for thorax shaping.

NOTE:  You may have a problem pulling the wooded dowel from the tied "embrace."   But I have solved that problem!  

Push the piece of wood toward the eye of the hook with the forefinger of your left hand.  Then with your right hand, rotate the wood to the left (direction of wind).  All feather fibers will slide around the wood better, and pulling the wood from the loop is done with minimum resistance.

After that, the feather "opens" and forms a closed ball-like sphere that holds a  maximum amount of air.  That air, combined with the nature of CDC, solves your floating problem with the "suspended" pupas of Chironomidae.

Bubble CDC Suspender Midges

There are several advantages of using such flies.  

A correct midge will silhouette on its first contact with water.  Not to be sunk!  

Visibility and additional weight of the leader is limited because it sinks into the surface film.  Also, there is minimum resistance while flying through the air.

The only disadvantage is the disproportion of the respiratory filaments between the natural and artificial fly!

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Bubble CDC

Suspender Pale Yellow Midge Pupa

Pet name: Pahuljasta patkova viseca svetlo zuta trzalica

Hook:  Size #14 to #18.

Thread:  Pre-waxed yellow.

Tag:  Short tuft floss.

Body:  Cream and light yellow fine dubbing mix of choice.

Rib:  Fine silver wire.

Wing:  Looped CDC - tied in at the tag end and looped over the fly.

Thorax:  Light rabbit fur (Hare's Ear Plus) dyed yellow and amber Antron mixed.

Respiratory Filaments:  White CDC feather tied loop method.

Head:  Yellow.

Note:  See Bubble CDC Suspending Midge for CDC loop method instructions.

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CDC Claret Velvet Pearl (Group 2)

Pet name: Visnjina svetlica

Tier:  Andrija Urban

Hook:  #12 to #16.

Thread:  Pre-waxed brown or claret.

Body:  Claret Antron.

Wing:  Looped CDC.

Thorax:  Claret Antron.

Head:  Velvet pearl (from craft store).

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CDC Cream Pupa

The name in Serbo-Croatian is "Patkova Krem Pupa," meaning "CDC Cream Pupa" in English.  This pattern imitates the caddis pupa in it's final wing development stage before flight.  

Hook:  8 – 18.

Bubble CDC Grey-Olive Caddis Pupa

Pet name:  Patkova sivomaslinasta pupa

Latin Name: Polycentropus flavomaculatus

As mentioned on the Pupa page, AndrijaI discovered Cul de Canard (CDC) 1964.  Since then he has used it in many creative patterns.  This one won Andrija an award and is tied loop wing style.  It can be tied in any color.  

CDC Emerging Mayfly

Pet name: Pahuljasta (Bubble) patkova rojenka

Tier:  Andrija Urban

Published in Taff Price, Fly Patterns An International Guide, page 140.

Hook:  Size 14 to 10.

Thread:  Pre-waxed brown or cream.

Tail:  Cock pheasant tail fibers.

Body:  Cream fur (Beaver) dubbing mix.

Wing:  Loop CDC.

Rib:  Dark brown silk (Pearsall's Gossamer).

Thorax:  Cream (gold Hare's Ear Plus) fur mix.

Wing Case:  Cock pheasant tail with a loop of cul de canard over the top.

Head:  Cream.

This fly is quite similar to the Bubble CDC Orange Hatching Dun except for color and materials.

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CDC Grey Emerging Pupa

Pet name: Pahuljasta radjajuca grao pupa

Tier:  Andrija Urban

Hook:  Size 14 to 10.

Thread:  Pre-waxed grey.

Tail:  Short tuft bright green Antron.

Body:  Muskrat (or Beaver) fur dubbing.

Rib:  Fine gold wire.

Wing:  Loop CDC – tied in at the tag end and lopped over the fly.

Hackle:  A few fibres of partridge tied beneath.

Thorax:  Face rabbit (Hare's Mask) fur mix.

Head:  Grey thread.

This fly is quite similar to the Bubble CDC Olive Emerging Hatching Pupa except for color, materials, and the lack of partridge hackle.

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CDC Hatching Claret Dun (Group2)

Pet name: Pahuljasta presvlaceca visnjasta rojenka

Tier:  Andrija Urban

Scroll down for "CDC Hatching Surface Cream-Yellow Dun"

Hook:  Swimming Nymph #14 to #6.

Thread:  Pre-waxed brown or black.

Tail:  Cock pheasant tail feather fibers.

Body:  Dark claret mix dubbing.

Thorax:  Dark brown young male seal's fur.

Wing:  Loop of cul-de-canard (CDC) on top.

Head:  Brown.

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CDC Hatching Surface Cream-Yellow Dun

Pet name: Pahuljasta presvlaceca crem - zuta rojenka

Tier:  Andrija Urban

Hook:  Swimming Nymph #14 to #6.

Thread:  Pre-waxed gold or olive.

Tail:  Cock pheasant tail feather fibers.

Body 1 (rear):  Cream & Light Yellow mix dubbing.

Rib:  Gold wire.

Thorax 1 (rear):  Light rabbit fur dyed yellow.

Wing:  Cul-de-Canard ( CDC) on top.

Body 2 (front):  Light yellow Rayon (or Antron) mix (no rib).

Thorax 2 (front):  Dark brown rabbit and brown Rayon (Antron) mix.

Wing:  Loop CDC and tie in front.

Head:  Gold or olive.

Note:  This fly is quite similar to the Bubble CDC Hatching Claret Dun, except for color variations.  

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CDC Olive Emerger

Pet name:  Prvenka

Latin Name:  Baetis rhodani

Tier:  Andrija Urban

Hook:  16 – 10.

Thread:  Pre-waxed brown-red.

Tail:  Cock partridge tail fibers.

Rib:  Striped peacock quill (See "Classroom" for instructions).

Body:  Olive Antron dubbing.

Wing:  Loop CDC.

Thorax:  Olive and orange Antron dubbing mix.

Wing Case:  Polycelon (or Poly Yarn).

Head:  Brown-red thread.

Note:  This fly imitates Baetis Rhodani in it's phase of lifting towards the water's surface and beginning of the final phase of changing before gaining the shape for flying off the water.  That phase lasts longer than the others and is therefore making the fly the most accessible to the fish.

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CDC Orange Hatching Dun

Pet name: Pahuljasta narandzasta rojenka

Tier:  Andrija Urban

Hook:  Size 14 to 10.

Thread:  Pre-waxed brown or black.

Tail:  Cock pheasant tail fibers.

Body:  Light cream fur dubbing mix.

Wing:  Loop CDC.

Rib:  Brown silk (Pearsall's Gossamer).

Thorax:  Orange fur mix (Hare's Ear Plus).

Wing Case:  Cock pheasant tail with a loop of cul de canard over the top.

Head:  Brown thread.

This fly is quite similar to the CDC Emerging Mayfly except for color and materials.

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Grayling’s Pale Evening Emerger

Pet name: Lipljanova vecernja rojenka

Tier:  Andrija Urban

Hook:  Size 18 to 14.

Thread:  Pre-waxed brown or grey.

Tail:  Pale ginger cock fibers.

Body:  Pale yellow rayon (Antron) dubbing.

Wing: Loop CDC.

Thorax: Face rabbit fur mix (Hare's Mask).

Wing Case:  Loop of cul de canard over the top.

Head:  Grey.

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Grey Hopper

Pet name: Kamenjar sivonja (Stony Greyish)

Tier:  Andrija Urban

The final appearance of the Grey Hopper was achieved when I incorporated the wings using Dr.Voljch's method (Slovenian Sedge).  It was in 1984.

Hook:  #6 to #12.

Thread:  Grey 120/2.

Body:  Clipped natural deer body hair.

Wing 1:  Blue raffene (swiss straw).  Found in craft stores.

Wing 2:  Grey cock partridge feather glued to nylon (Dr. Voljch method).

Legs:  Two bunches of knotted silver pheasant (natural color).

Hackle Over Breast:  Palmered grizzly cock.

Thorax:  Clipped natural grey deer deer hair.

Head:  Dark grey thread.

Note:  With this fly I fly-fish the chub, the bleak and brook tro