The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
Blue Wing Olive, PMD
Easy - 5-7 Min
Coldwater
This pattern is similar to many other baetis imitations, but the purple is really what sets this apart. There are some substitutions available for this pattern, but make sure you leave the purple thorax alone. It’s the namesake of the fly, and is also one of the reasons the fish have a hard time resisting this bug.
Tail: Black Pheasant Tail looks great as the tail on this fly if Black Hen Back isn’t available to you.
Casing: Opal Mirage Tinsel does a great job as the casing on this bug.
Thorax: Any flashy purple colored dubbing, such as prism dubbing, is a great option for substitution.
This pattern can suggest a few different mayfly species. Changing the body, tail, and wing color can help you narrow it down to a certain bug for a certain area. For general use, the original colors work best. Always have a few sizes on deck, so that you don’t get caught being refused by some picky fish. This pattern has been known to stick some big boys, so staying true to the original look as much as possible is ideal.
The Purple Back Baetis is just another regular baetis pattern without the pop factor that the purple thorax, and flashy casing provide. Those two things really set this pattern apart from the rest of the crowd. Sometimes you just need that extra little push to convince a big fish to move on a fly. Tying this fly is simple as can be, so there’s no excuses to not have at least of few of these little guys in your box!
Fishing this fly in nymph rig, or as the dropper in a dry dropper set up will serve you well out on the water. In a nymph rig just be sure to pair this fly with some heavier bugs, or split shot to ensure that it’s getting down to the fish. They can’t eat it unless they can see it! If you’re going with a dry dropper setup, this bug is best fished as a trailer fly in slower water. That will give it a chance to sink.
| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Region: West
Blue Wing Olive Sizes: #16 - #24
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Region: Northwest
Blue Wing Olive Sizes: #16 - #24
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Region: East
Blue Wing Olive Sizes: #16 - #24
|
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Region: Southeast
Blue Wing Olive Sizes: #16 - #24
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Region: Midwest
Blue Wing Olive Sizes: #16 - #24
|
| 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
|
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Copyright © 2003 – 2025 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved.