How To Tie The Blue-Winged Olive Trout Fly

The Blue Winged Olive Dry Fly is the classic style tie of the important BWO, or Blue Winged Olive mayfly of the Genus Baetis and related mayflies. Hatches occur as early as February and gather momentum through June, take a slight break except for cloudy days during the summer, and then come back with a vengeance in late summer through November. In spite of all the new BWO patterns being originated, seemingly one a day, this classic tie in various sizes will take trout whenever the hatch is on strong. If the trout are being selective, try clipping the bottom of the hackle off, and presto, you have a low-riding Comparadun type of BWO.


HOOK SIZES:  14, 16, 18, 20

HOOK OPTIONS:  Tiemco 100BL , Mustad 94840 standard dry fly hook , Mustad 94845 barbless dry fly hook

THREAD:  Gray Danville 6/0

WING: Blue dun hackle tips tied upright and divided.

TAIL:  Blue dun hackle fibers

BODY: Blue Winged Olive Super Fine Dubbing (Best for most small dry flies and emergers).

HACKLE: Blue dun

HEAD FINISH: Water base head cement