Bwo???

This was sold too me at the local Big Box Sports Store as A BWO. I am not experienced enough yet to identify it or to be able to copy it myself. I like the little fly, so I was hoping someone here could help me identify who's recipe it is and point me in the right direction for finding the recipe, as I have not found one in the FOTW to match it closely yet. Thanks Luke.
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...g/P2217193.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...g/P2217198.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...g/P2217197.jpg
P.S. I am going out this afternoon to pick up some books, so that I will not have to lean on you guys so much. ;)

The recipe appears to be:
tail and hackle: dun hackle
body: olive dubbing
wings: mallard wing slips?

Books? look for Charley Craven's book on basic fly tying

What he said. However, it looks like the body is a light olive synthetic of some type and the wings are black hackle tips or perhaps some type of black quill slips? Personally, I prefer the hackle a little longer.

Allan

That is your basic BWO, approximately Catskill style. Whose recipe it is would entail going back fifty or eighty years and seeing who claimed to be the first to invent it.

The thing about mayflies is that once you have a basic pattern down, all you have to do to make a different mayfly is change the color of the materials and if needed, the size of the hook. So even though there are hundreds of species of mayflies out there, they can all be matched with one basic pattern (or another, there are lots of different approaches), with at most some minor tweaks.

Same with caddis, stones, midges... I have one mayfly pattern, one caddis pattern, one stonefly pattern, and one midge pattern, and they are all, with only minor differences, the SAME pattern. But I can match almost any bug out there with them.

Books are great Luke, I'm going back over a bunch now. But, having this forum is sooooo much better. You get to interact with some of the greatest people. The two complement each other.
Mike

"That is your basic BWO, approximately Catskill style". Would you clarify your use of the word, 'approximately'? It seems to me that that fly has neither the proportions nor the wings of a 'Catskill' style fly. Just sayin.

Allan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Allan

"That is your basic BWO, approximately Catskill style". Would you clarify your use of the word, 'approximately'? It seems to me that that fly has neither the proportions nor the wings of a 'Catskill' style fly. Just sayin.

Allan

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Here we go! :)

Steven,

Nah(-: Not going to get into that discussion again for at least another 5-10 years, lol.
But that fly really looks like a poor crude import though.

Allan

As I said, It was purchased at a Big Box sporting goods store, so more than likely it is and import. I was just looking for some input on patterns and I got it thanks. Luke

Alan,

Too funny.

Yeah, that fly is none too pretty.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Luke McLeod

As I said, It was purchased at a Big Box sporting goods store, so more than likely it is and import. I was just looking for some input on patterns and I got it thanks. Luke

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Luke,

As you're starting out, leave the wing off for now (particularly if you're tying a size 18 or smaller).

A good BWO recipe would be:

Thread: Olive 8/0

Tail: light dun spade hackles (spade hackles are the fibers from the very wide feathers on the side of a rooster's neck) or micro-fibbetts (synthetic products akin to paint brush fibers). I'm partial to the micro-fibbetts.

Body: Medium Olive Far and Fine or some other synthetic dubbing.

Wing/Legs: 4-6 turns of light dun hackle as a collar.

This is traditionally known as a "hackle-collar fly" and in smaller sizes is probably as effective as a winged version.

Thats an ideal place to start. If you want to add a wing just use a post of grey antron yarn (synthetic carpet yarn). Tie it in first then wind the hackle behind and in front of it. Two or three turns either side.
Cheers,
A.

Thanks everyone, I think I'll dive in tonight and tie one up for my first dry. I think I'll start with about a #14 and work my way down. I know it might not be an effective size for this fly, but I'm training some large fingers here, so 18's might have to hold off for a week or so. :D Luke

Allan, that is why I used the word "approximately". Hackle, feather tip wings (can't see that well in the pic), dubbed body, fibers for tail, gets it in that ballpark and then I let all the purists fight over how pure it is. *G* Not everyone says "catskill" in hushed and reverent tones.

The BWO was originated in England where my research indicates there are over 50 varieties. They are probably the major player in tiny mayflies in sizes 18 to 22 and smaller. When they first became popular in this country hooks to tie the smallest ones didn't even exist.

RW

Thanks RW. Luke

Nice to see you post again, RW.

Ed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Royal Wulff

The BWO was originated in England where my research indicates there are over 50 varieties. They are probably the major player in tiny mayflies in sizes 18 to 22 and smaller. When they first became popular in this country hooks to tie the smallest ones didn't even exist.

RW

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I think it would have been possible to make the hooks but finding hackle would have been incredibly difficult and tippets to tie them to impossible to produce. In many ways we are enjoying a golden age of fly tying, or at least of resources to tie with.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rainbowchaser

I think it would have been possible to make the hooks but finding hackle would have been incredibly difficult and tippets to tie them to impossible to produce. In many ways we are enjoying a golden age of fly tying, or at least of resources to tie with.

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Actually, one of the most popular patterns that used to be fished over there way back for a BWO hatch was the Orange Quill. It was tied on a size 14 hook, or 13, for the smallest tied size. It was popularized by G.E.M. Skues, even though he didn't come up with the dressing that was used for evening hatches, and was supposed to be a pattern that no fisherman should ever be without in his flybox at the time. Here's what it looks like as far as the dressing goes for when I tied it on a size 14.

http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/o...vendon/002.jpg

Regards,
Mark

This my personal favorite straight-up dry BWO pattern.

Attachment 9967

NJTB, RW here,

That is exactly the way I tie them but minus the ribbing. Same shade of olive and medium dun hackle. Good looking fly by the way. Just finished tying up a dozen. Where in So. Jersey. I lived there for 55 years.

rw

I like the loop wing versions

http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...h/IMG_2703.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Royal Wulff

NJTB, RW here,

That is exactly the way I tie them but minus the ribbing. Same shade of olive and medium dun hackle. Good looking fly by the way. Just finished tying up a dozen. Where in So. Jersey. I lived there for 55 years.

rw

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RW, the ribbing is just the natural edge of the biot body when you wrap it. I like the segmentation.

I'm in Haddon Heights. Whereabouts were you?.....and how did you escape? LOL!

Byron,

I like the Loop wing alot as well. Change the abdomen and tail to pheasant tail and that's my LTD. :) I fish it more often than not. But the BWO posted is my favorite straight dry pattern. The LTD is an emerger/dry pattern.

Ralph

ok first of all .... not judging ... but the first fly is a crude attempt for somebody that has never seen a bwo fly be it tyed in catts style or any other.
njtb nice fly .... great proportions.

I like to tye my loop wings with cdc

NYangler....thanks much. I like the CDC loop as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NJTroutbum

Byron,

I like the Loop wing alot as well. Change the abdomen and tail to pheasant tail and that's my LTD. :) I fish it more often than not. But the BWO posted is my favorite straight dry pattern. The LTD is an emerger/dry pattern.

Ralph

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I think the splayed stiff tail fibers assist in flotation given the "V" notched hackle.

And I like Fibbetts for the tail, thread for an abdomen, super fine dubbing for thorax with a white Post and Dun hackle for a Parachute. Size???? 14 to 24

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Byron haugh

I think the splayed stiff tail fibers assist in flotation given the "V" notched hackle.

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Yes'sir it does. Split tails are very functional. On the LTD the goal is for the tail and abdomen to sink blow the film. Your pattern shown is a great dry pattern for sure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ny angler

ok first of all .... not judging ... but the first fly is a crude attempt for somebody that has never seen a bwo fly be it tyed in catts style or any other.

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As stated previously, it was purchased at a chain sporting goods store and is most likely an import from Asia. Part of the reason I posted it was because it did not fit the BWO patterns I had seen here and I was wondering if it even fit the bill as a BWO representative. I am new to tying and looking for ideas. This post has provided me with many. Thanks all. Luke
PS: that was judging.

lmao so it was ;)

Hi,
When I tie a "catskill type" style BWO in size 18 and below, I usually omit the wings.

http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...h/IMG_2712.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Byron haugh

Hi,
When I tie a "catskill type" style BWO in size 18 and below, I usually omit the wings.

http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/...h/IMG_2712.jpg

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Now that rocks!

I like that one. Byron, It's probably a noob question, but what's the tail? Luke

Luke,
No, hard to tell. It is Coq de Lon (sp?) feather fibers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Byron haugh

Luke,
No, hard to tell. It is Coq de Lon (sp?) feather fibers.

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Coq de Leon. Pardo (which I think means barred). Whiting sells them as tailing packs.

Great choice, love those feathers, love that fly!