Sign up
My Account
Log In
Log Out

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning

Emerger, Nymph

Diamond Braid Emerger

Insect Species Icon Quill Gordon, Blue Wing Olive, Callibaetis and 8 others
Difficulty Icon Medium - 3-5 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: Jig style hook 1x gape 1x heavy size #16
  • Bead: 3.5 mm slotted tungsten bead matte black
  • Thread: UTC 70 denier black
  • Tail: Rooster saddle hackle fibers black
  • Body: Turkey biot quills black
  • Wing: UNI braid extra small pearl
  • Collar: CDC plumes black
  • Head: Wapsi all purpose rabbit dubbing black
  • Hook: Jig hooks are preferred, but not required for this fly. If using a standard hook, consider using a down-eye hook.
  • Bead: If tying this on a jigged hook, use a slotted bead. If tying on a standard hook, standard tungsten or brass beads are fine. Choose any color.
  • Thread: Thin thread is preferred, as there are a few materials in this pattern. Go as thin as you like, but try not to get thicker than 8/0 or 70 denier. Match the color of the thread to the color of the body.
  • Tail: Pheasant tail or mallard flank are excellent tailing materials, if you want a bit of a stronger tail, Coq de Leon is a great material that is very strong.
  • Body: If you don’t have turkey biot quills, consider just a thread body with a bit of extra small wire for ribbing. D-rib and midge tubing are great alternatives as well.
  • Wing: Glamour madeira is an excellent substitute for this fly. If using this, consider not looping the material over like in the original pattern.
  • Collar: CDC is an excellent collar, with little substitutes.
  • Head: Use any spikey dubbing of your choice, squirrel and beaver dubbing are excellent alternatives.

Using different materials for this fly can allow the tyer to create great variations of this fly. Using partridge for the soft hackle style wing in conjunction with the CDC called for on the original recipe can make a bushier wing for rougher waters. Glamour madeira can make a great wing substitution for tying this fly in smaller sizes as well. For a stronger tail, try using Coq-de-Leon instead of rooster saddle. This will give the fly a bit more contrasting qualities as well. For a great synthetic body that has great ribbing quality, give midge tubing a try!

This is a bright, sparkly pattern with great contrast compared to the rest of the fly. This makes this an excellent fly for days where the water is a bit stained, or for cloudy days where the water is a bit darker. Don’t consider this fly for gloomy days only though, the pearl braid will shine through the roughest riffles and plunge pools on bright sunny days as well. The jig style hook keeps this fly riding hook point up, which allows the angler to confidently dredge the bottom without having to worry too much about snagging.

This is a great attractor fly to search new waters with, or to fish confidently in your local waters. A very versatile fly that can be fished with any style, whether you prefer to euro nymph, fish under a strike indicator, or fish dry droppers. The emerger style of this fly allows the angler to be a little more whimsical with their drift, as a completely dead drifted fly is not required. Swinging this fly might be a little much, but a little lift up with the rod tip at the end of a drift might entice a fish to chase after it.

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

Caddis

General Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Caddis
Sizes: #10 - #22

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

Hendrickson

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: East, Midwest
Hendrickson
Sizes: #10 - #16

Light Cahill

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: East
Light Cahill
Sizes: #12 - #20
Region: Midwest
Light Cahill
Sizes: #12 - #20
Region: Northwest
Light Cahill
Sizes: #12 - #20

Little Black Caddis

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

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

October Caddis

Regional Hatch Chart Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Region: West, Northwest, East
October Caddis
Sizes: #8 - #12

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

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

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