Welcome to Fly Tying Tuesday
A simple but deadly BWO emerger pattern for picky trout in slow water or flat tailouts.
Welcome back to Fly Tying Tuesday! This week, we’re tying the High Rise Emerger—a simple but deadly BWO emerger pattern for picky trout in slow water or flat tailouts. It sits just in the surface film, making it irresistible during a hatch.
Let’s Tie, see Taylor in action in the video!
Materials Used: (all available at AvidMax)
- Hook: Tiemco TMC 2488 Hook – Size 20
- Thread: Semperfli Nano Silk – Olive 30d
- Tail/ Shuck: Hareline Coq de Leon Feathers
- Body/ Thorax: Wapsi Ostrich Herl – Natural Gray
- Wing Post: Wapsi 1mm Razor Fly Foam – Translucent White
Step-by-Step Tying Instructions:
Step 1: Hook and Thread Base: Start your thread behind the eye of the Tiemco TMC 2488 hook and wrap back to the bend in smooth touching turns. Keep it flat and even with Nano Silk Olive 30d.
Step 2: Tail/Shuck: Tie in a short clump (about half the hook length) of Coq de Leon fibers at the bend to imitate the trailing shuck. These add sparkle and realism.
Step 3: Body and Thorax: Tie in 1–2 strands of Natural Gray Ostrich Herl and wrap it forward to form a fuzzy, segmented body. The natural movement of ostrich adds lifelike animation in still water.
Step 4: Wing Post (Emerging Wing): Cut a narrow strip of Translucent White Razor Foam (~1mm wide). Tie it in flat on top of the hook shank to form an upright post. This mimics the wing trying to break through the surface film and helps with visibility.
Step 5: Finish: Build a small thread head, whip finish, and optionally add a touch of UV resin or head cement.
How to Fish It
- This pattern is best fished during a Blue-Winged Olive hatch, especially when trout are visibly feeding but ignoring traditional dries. Its low-riding profile and soft materials make it extremely effective in:
- Flat, clear water
- Slick tailouts
- Over selective trout
- Use a dead drift with a greased leader to keep it floating in the film. Sometimes, adding a tiny twitch can trigger a take.
Check out some of our favorite Fly Tying Gear:
- Vise – Dynaking Barracuda Deluxe Pedestal Vise
- Scissors – Kopter ABSOLUTE Blade Micro Serrated Edge Thin Point
- Bodkin – Dr. Slick Jumbo Carbon Fiber Bodkin
- Whip Finisher – Tiemco Midge Whip Finisher
- Tool Kit – Umpqua Dream Stream Plus 7 Piece Fly Tying Tool Kit
