The life cycles of these insects contribute to their importance as trout table fare. It is common for the species to have two and sometimes three generations in a single year. The number of generations is largely determined by water temperature. Cold, high elevation or more northerly streams may produce only two generations a year, while slightly warmer streams at lower elevations or further south often produce three generations a year. Spring creeks with relatively constant water temperatures can have Baetis hatches almost every month of the year.

Variations in the size and color of BWOs occur in the same species and in the same region from stream to stream. As a matter of fact, they look more like grey winged olives. They prefer to hatch on cool, rainy, and overcast days.

Like most Mayflies, BWOs swim to the surface, break free of their nymphal shell and emerge on the rivers’ surface as an adult. At this point they drift on the surface while their wings dry. The warmer the weather, the less time they spend on the surface which makes it more difficult for the trout.

The nymph, emerger, and dun stages are the most important to fly fishers. Spinners are generally not a factor since many females of the species crawl down into the water from a rock to lay eggs.

Some of the best fishing I've ever encountered was on the Bighorn in early April during a snowstorm. On one memorable day the hatch lasted for 6 hours. It seemed as though every fish in the river (as far as I could see) was rising to size 18 duns.

While the range of patterns for BWOs is astonishing,
many of the characteristics of the better flies have similarities.

--Olive to olive-grey bodies
--Beefy thorax
--Small sizes with 16 to 22 being the norm
--Predominance of CDC and dun colored saddle
--Use of synthetics for tailing
Day in and day out I believe emergers fished in the
surface film will out-catch any other creation.

8. When the hatch starts, it may be difficult to see the rises. If you’re floating the river, pull over and get out while taking a close look upstream along the bank. This means you're looking, not fishing! Trout feeding on Blue-Wings tend to rise subtly and rhythmically, so you should look closely for snouts and fins breaking the water surface.

9. Move slowly and get as close as you can while wade fishing. This will greatly improve on your presentation and drift.

10. When trout are picky don't waste a lot of time on a single target. Find the fish that may get overlooked. These guys will be holding right off the bank or next to some obstruction.

11. If the BWOs are particularly large, an Adams can be a good bet.

12. Try to target individual trout in the back of the pack. If you spook these fish by lining them you will probably spook the pod. Hang in there for a while; the fish may start feeding again a bit further in front of you.

13. Use a slip strike, down and slightly to the side when setting the hook. After the fish is hooked, try to steer it away from the other rising trout.

14. Try to get in a position where you are slightly off to the side of rising fish. When you cast accurately at an angle, your line and leader will naturally be to the side of the fish and not over it. If you’re approaching downstream you also want to be off to the side.

15. If nothing is working try something weird or outlandish…..nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Start the thread at the center of the shank and tie in a relatively sparse tail.  Tie in the quill along 2/3's of the shank back to the bend.  Wrap the quill forward and tie off, or wrap both the quill and the thread simultaneously and tie off.  Leave a slight amount of space between the wraps so that the thread underbody shows through.  Coat the body with head cement or Sally Hansens. Click Here to order materials.
 

Tie in the wing, trim off the butt end and apply dubbing.  Make a couple of wraps behind the wing to stand it up.  Whip finish and apply head cement. 
Click Here to order materials.
 

The finished product.  A highly visible fly that rides low in the water.  Apply some Gink and Frog's Fanny and watch this fly ride high while keeping the bend of the fly anchored under the surface of the water.  Click Here to order materials.

Tie in a brown ostrich hackle and palmer it back up to the bend.  An optional step is to tie in a few brown partridge feathers along the sides that extend no further than one hook eye beyond the ostrich.  Select a clump of wing material and remove the underfur and long guard hairs.  The length should be 1 to 1.5X the hook length. Click Here to order materials.
 

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Flies like these will increase your chances of catching big fish on top.  If a goal of yours has been to join the 20/20 club, a 20 inch fish on a size 20 fly, a Baetis hatch is a great time to do it!  When the hatch is on, the fishing can be on fire.  FRA wants to make sure that the odds are stacked in your favor when you see this natural wonder in action. 

When it all comes together this hatch is one of the year's best.  If you are looking to tie up some of these great flies and are in need of materials, please click through to our Order Form.  FRA also sells these custom flies that are not found in commercial fly catalogs.  Feel free to browse our Online Fly Tying Department and get the materials that you need to tie up these great Fall and Spring patterns.

Thanks to FRA's new remote fly tier, Rich Strolis. 
"I dig anything fly fishing.  Ive been fortunate enough to have a passion that pays for itself, and met some great people along the way.  I enjoy tying and creating flies about as much as I do fishing and teaching people about the sport.  I'm partial to strong coffee, a good beer, big fish and no Bulls@&t.  Being a father is way cool, and I have lived my life without regret." -Rich

Please Contact Us if you have any questions. 

Good luck on the water,

~FRA