The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
The Best Anglers Never Stop Learning
Blue Wing Olive
Easy - 1-3 Min
Coldwater
The Skinny Nelson is a budget conscience, easy to tie, fish catching machine. There are a few materials that can be mixed and matched while still getting the full effect of the bug that we want.
Wing Case: The same look can be achieved by using 2-3 strands of Flashabou as opposed to the Mirage Tinsel.
Thorax: Ice Dub in Olive or Pheasant Tail will do the trick if you prefer dubbing to herl.
The best variation choice on the Skinny Nelson is all color based. Change out the wire and thread colors to match the bugs in your local water for the best results. Olive thread and black wire give this fly a solid change in wardrobe.
One of the key factors that make this fly so successful is the slender, simple fashion. Less is more in the case of the Skinny Nelson. If mayflies are present this fly can be ultra useful on picky and non-picky fish alike. Along with the slenderness of the bug, the segmentation really stands out. Those factors work together to make a stellar fly. Both easy to tie, and widely consumed by fish all over.
This fly is crazy productive on tailwaters, and where ever you find picky fish residing. Tagged along behind a flashier, bigger nymph this will be the bug that most of the fish turn to and say, “oh, I’ll have that instead!” It can also be a big producer when you are getting dry fly refusals. Either put it underneath your dry fly if it is large enough to float the nymph beneath it, or snip off the dry to fish a nymph rig. Doing either will put a fish in the bottom of your net if executed correctly!
| Regional Hatch Chart | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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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
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Copyright © 2003 – 2025 MidCurrent LLC, All Rights Reserved.