The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Emerger

Greg’s Emerger

Insect Species Icon Blue Wing Olive, PMD, Trico
Difficulty Icon Easy - 3-5 Min
Water Category Icon Coldwater

Tying Video

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Tying Recipe
  • Hook: Down Eye, Fine Wire, 2X Wide, 2X Short
  • Bead: Glass Midge Bead, Clear
  • Thread: UTC 70 Denier, Olive
  • Tail: Pheasant Tail, Natural
  • Casing 1: Pheasant Tail, Natural
  • Body: Superfine Dubbing, Tan
  • Rib: X-Small Ultra Wire, Copper
  • Thorax: Superfine Dubbing, Tan
  • Casing 2: Medium Mirage Tinsel, Opal

This pattern does a stellar job at imitating multiple different species of insects. All of the materials work together to create a pretty incredible emerger pattern. For that reason only one of the materials in this bug has a substitution option.

Casing 2: In the case that you don’t have Opal Mirage Tinsel in the right size, any other flashback material or even a few strands of flashabou will get the job done.

Black, grey, tan, brown, yellow, and green are all good color options to incorporate when tying this bug. Make your decisions based on what insects you are trying to focus on imitating, as well as where you are fishing. Having a few different sizes in each color you tie is also a fail safe for having the right bug on the river.

Simple to tie, imitates many different insects, uses very common materials, and has a bit of flash! You’d be crazy to expect any more good things in one small package. Greg’s Emerger is just one of those confidence patterns that will catch the most eager fish, and the pickiest fish in the river. Not many flies can boast so many good qualities. Plus, you can cover most mayfly species with just a quick color, and size change. What’re you waiting for, get to the vise!

Fishing this bug in a nymph rig is the most common practice, but it would also be at home underneath a dry fly. Either way the fish will be happy to see such an appetizing snack. It doesn’t have much weight of it’s own, so some split shot or heavier flies above it may be necessary to get it down near the fish.

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

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

Trico

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest
Trico
Sizes: #18 - #26
Region: East, Southeast, Midwest
Trico
Sizes: #18 - #26

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and all the FlyBrary Content.