Emergers are just that, aquatic nymph attempting to break through the water surface, in it's attempt to emerge as a adult winged insect. Some make it, other fail. The fish will attack both the submerged and surface fly. So there is room for both versions, weighted and unweighted, in an anglers fly box.

If a simple fly pattern is effective at catching fish, why go to the additional time, to dress a complicated pattern that is just as effective? I would rather spend my time at water's edge fishing, than at the vise dressing hooks!

~Parnelli