RAMBLINGS OF A FLYTIER
Sometimes the simplest pattern is the best. The floating nymph can be adapted to all mayflies. In this case, the blue winged olive or BWO. By the way, the blue is really different shades of grey and the blue is a throwback to the Brits. Locally the BWO is found on the Holy Water and the main stem of the Rogue River. Let’s get started on the pattern for the BWO.
Hook – Daiichi 1330, 1480 size 16 -20, or your favorite dry fly hook
Thread – Brown, the smallest you are comfortable using
Rib – Small copper wire
Tail – Pheasant tail barbs
Body – Pheasant tail barbs
Wing case & wing – dun comparadun deer hair
Thorax – Hareline dubbing, grey olive
The fly is put together in the sequence of the parts listed above. The hook can be any dry fly hook 16 and smaller, but I prefer up eye or straight eye to keep the hook gap open. Tie in tips of 3 to 5 barbs (the length of the hook shank) at rear of hook then wrap thread forward, wrap the barbs forward 2/3 the length of the hook shank. Then counter wrap the rib, try for 5 wraps (remember tradition). Stack deer hair then tie in about hook shank long (take a few tries to figure out how many fibers to get the proper width), you want it sparse but not too thin. Wrap in a small dubbed ball- shaped thorax then pull over wing case and tie down wing, then pull up wing, wrap enough thread to make wing spread wide then tie off.
