How to Tie a BWO Emerger

The blue wing olive (BWO) emerger is a common mayfly in cold-water fisheries. The mayfly has a dark olive coloration, and hatches are prolific during the spring season. Numerous BWO emerger patterns exist to imitate the subsurface insect as it swims to the surface and attempts to emerge as an adult. The fish focus on the emergers as they are readily available and defenseless in the middle of the water column. Tying the pattern is not overly complex, but precision is required to complete the proper portions on small hooks.

Things You'll Need

  • Vise
  • Curved shank nymph hook #14-22
  • 8/0 olive thread
  • Pheasant tail
  • Olive synthetic dubbing
  • Whip finish tool
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the hook in the vise and clamp the jaws. Begin the thread at the one-half point on the hook and wrap it to the bend.

    • 2

      Cut three fibers from a pheasant tail and measure the tips to match the length of the hook. Pinch the fibers on top of the hook bend and make five thread wraps to secure them on the hook. Cut the base of the fibers off the hook.

    • 3

      Twist a thin layer of olive synthetic dubbing on the thread. Spin the fibers between your fingers to create a tight attachment on the thread. Wrap the thread two-thirds of the distance up the hook to build the abdomen.

    • 4

      Cut six fibers from a pheasant tail and hold the base of the fibers on the hook with the tips pointing to the bend. Make five thread wraps to hold the fibers on the hook.

    • 5

      Twist another layer of dubbing on the thread. Wrap the dubbing between the abdomen and hook eye to build the thorax. Make the thorax two times the diameter of the abdomen.

    • 6

      Pull the pheasant tail fibers over the thorax to build the wing case. Make five thread wraps to hold the fibers at the eye. Use your fingers to divide the tips of the pheasant tail. Fold three fibers on each side of the thorax to create legs. Make five thread wraps to hold the legs in place.

    • 7

      Use a whip finish tool to tie 10 half hitch knots in the thread. Cut the thread off the hook.