Sign up
My Account
Log In
Log Out

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Nymph

Higas SOS

Insect Species Icon Blue Wing Olive
Difficulty Icon Easy - 1-3 Min
Water Category Icon Coldwater

Tying Video

Become a Member

Sign up for full access to the Learning Center
and all the FlyBrary Content.
Sign up
Tying Recipe
  • Hook: Allen N301 Hook
  • Bead: Brass or Tungsten Bead
  • Thread: UTC 70 Thread
  • Wire: UTC X-Small – Small Wire
  • Tail: Black Schlappen Feather Fibers or Dyed Black Pheasant Tail Fibers
  • Dubbing: Black Superfine Dubbing
  • Back: Red Krystal Flash
  • Legs: Peacock Krystal Flash
  • Bead: You can substitute brass or tungsten in silver, gold, red or black nickel.  You can even change the fly color and match the bead color to to thread color.
  • Tail: You can substitute any black feather that is pliable and has movement.  Schlappen feather fibers, black pheasant tail fibers, starling fibers, black hen or rooster saddle fibers.
  • Dubbing: You can use antron dubbing, but if you substitute, make sure you are VERY sparse when creating the head.  Superfine works best but you can sub out any dubbing as long as it’s sparse and black.
  • Back: You can use red floss, red thread, red rubber legs (thin) or even white options and use a permanent marker to make it red.
  • Legs: You can sub in peacock herl, or any fibers you used to make the tail if they are long enough to tie in correctly. As a variation you can add in small black rubberlegs to be more “stonefly” like as a spin off of the pattern as well.
  • Hot Spot Variation: Using red or any bright color at the point of the head where you whip finish is another way to further add to this flies attraction skill.

Higas SOS is an excellent micro attractor pattern that imitates baetis and other small mayflies and stones. This pattern can save the day when fish are being extra picky and has been a secret fly for many guides for quite some time.

Fish When There Are No Hatches

This fly seems to do a great job at both attracting fish while also being imitative enough to get them to commit to the take.  When there are slow periods fishing, this fly has saved many anglers and why it’s called an “SOS” pattern.

How I Fish It

I usually fish this as the bottom or “point” fly in a two fly suspension rig set up with a strike indicator.  I get more strikes when the fly is the point fly instead of the first fly on the rig.  It does well fished deep right in the slow water of any run, riffle or pool where fish are actively feeding.

Blue Wing Olive

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: Northwest
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: East
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: Southeast
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24
Region: Midwest
Blue Wing Olive
Sizes: #16 - #24

Become a Member

Sign up for full access to the Learning Center
and all the FlyBrary Content.

Sign up

COMPANY

SUPPORT

our offering

Courses

Take our premium courses

& grow your fly fishing knowledge

Sign up
Log In
My Account
Log out

Follow us

Instagram Youtube Facebook-square X-twitter Tiktok

payment methods accepted

Copyright © 2003 – 2025 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved.

Get Free Lessons to Your Inbox

Take our premium courses

& grow your fly fishing knowledge

Sign up
Log In
My Account
Log Out

Follow us

Instagram Youtube Facebook-square X-twitter Tiktok

payment methods accepted

Copyright © 2003 – 2025 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved.

MEMBER COURSES

FLYBRARY

ASK EXPERTS

FREE CONTENT

OUR EDUCATORS

MEMBERSHIP SIGN UP
Sign in
MY ACCOUNT
Log Out