The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Emerger

Shop Vac

Insect Species Icon Midges, PMD, Blue Wing Olive and 4 others
Difficulty Icon Easy - 1-3 Min
Water Category Icon Coldwater

Tying Video

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Tying Recipe
  • Hook: Scud/Pupa Hook, 1x Strong, 1x Short
  • Bead: Brass or Tungsten, Sized to Hook
  • Thread: UTC 70 Denier, Black
  • Rib: Small Ultra Wire, Copper
  • Body: Pheasant Tail, Natural
  • Wing: Z-lon, White

Patterns as simple as the Shop Vac are difficult to substitute materials with. In this case we really only have one part of the fly that has the flexibility to be substituted.

Wing: The recipie calls for Z-lon, but Antron or any similar material in white will give this fly an appetizing look.

Changing up the color of the pheasant tail and the wire are both good options when making variations of this bug, and will also help you match the insect in the particular piece of water you’re fishing. Having plenty of sizes at your disposal is another important thing you should keep in mind.

This fly has a great deal of simplicity at it’s advantage. It can also imitate so many different types of emerging insects which makes it a great pattern for fishing new water where you may not totally know what the fish are feeding on. Less is more in this case, and the amount of fish you’ll catch will prove that to you very quickly.

This bug is a life saver when you get to a new place, and need a fly you can trust to search out fish. Having lots of sizes and colors will also help with that process of narrowing down what the fish seem to be keying in on. In a nymph rig, or in a dry dropper situation this fly will clean up the river.

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

Callibaetis

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Northwest
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: East
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Midwest
Callibaetis
Sizes: #12 - #18

Isonychia

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: East
Isonychia
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Southeast
Isonychia
Sizes: #12 - #18
Region: Midwest
Isonychia
Sizes: #12 - #18

March Brown

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, East
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Northwest
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14
Region: Midwest
March Brown
Sizes: #10 - #14

Midges

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, East, Southeast, Midwest
Midges
Sizes: #14 - #26

PMD

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, East, Southeast, Midwest
PMD
Sizes: #14 - #20

Quill Gordon

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: East, Southeast
Quill Gordon
Sizes: #12 - #16

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