Dry fly / Pattern notes

Blue-Winged Olive

An olive mayfly body with dun wings and hackle for small olive hatches.

From hook to fly

At the vise.

4 steps

Follow this base recipe in order. The materials list specifies one hook size; adjust proportions together when tying another size.

Wings
Tie matched hen tips at the front third, one shank long. Raise and separate them with supporting thread wraps.
Tail
Tie several mayfly fibers at the bend, approximately one shank long. Cover the butts smoothly.
Body
Dub a slender olive abdomen. Attach the hackle behind the wings and finish a small thorax.
Hackle and finish
Wrap dun hackle behind and ahead of the wings. Secure, trim, whip finish, and cement the thread.

Beyond the bench

Match the size of the olives on the water and drift without drag. Change to an emerger when fish ignore the adult profile.

Tied by independent makers

No tyers have listed this pattern yet. Request a custom version, or add your own fly to the library.

Original written instructions adapted from the sources below. Materials and methods may vary between versions.