“Caught” this fellow on the Henry’s Fork a week ago. The thing that strikes me is the fairly obvious segmentation of the abdomen even in such a tiny sized fly. Think I will use a yellow thread for ribbing even on this size in the future.
Neat pics here and on the spinner thread, Byron.
There has been a really small mayfly hatching on the Lochsa the past week and a half or so, and I think it is probably the same tiny BWO.
Some time ago I read about the psuedocleon, so when I saw your pix, I decided to refresh my memory. Lo and behold, Neil Travis wrote about them here on FAOL some time ago.
Follow the link for Neil’s take on this one -
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/journal/part89.php
John
Neat pix here and on the spinner thread, Byron. With the droopy tails and floppy wing, it strikes me that this little guy must be quite freshly emerged ??
John
I am still in the novice stage when it come to aquatic insects, do BWO not grow quite a bit larger in some area? I remember seeing or hearing someone mention them up to a size 12.
BWO covers a multitude of species. I believe some of the European mayflies so described are larger than most of ours in the U.S.
Jesse -
It seems to me that most of the BWOs that I’ve seen in the Intermountain West and Northern Rockies are a size 18, or thereabouts.
There is a tiny BWO presently on my home water in Northern Idaho that is about the size of the one Byron shows, maybe even a bit smaller. It used to be called a psuedocleon, but has been reclassified to a more difficult latin name that I don’t recall, offhand. I wouldn’t even try to match it with a dry fly 'cause I can’t tie dry flies that small. I did fish a small ( think it was a 22 ) emerger pattern on that hatch yesterday and did hook a couple fish with it, and had a couple hit it but not hook up.
John
thanks for showing me the segmentation, inspired me to add it to this #26. I haven’t fished it yet, hope it will get approved. 
As noted by Rainbow Chaser, “Blue Winged Olive” is a descriptor of numerous species. Sometimes it is used as a descriptor of the Drunella genus which includes the various Western Green Drakes which go that size.
Generally, the term is used for Baetis, Acentralla, and Plauditus species. These go anywhere from 16 down to 24 if not further.
In my area we have spring and fall baetis. The fall version is somewhat smaller. Out the other day, and my size 22 dry was way too big. Sub-surface, the fish were more forgiving in regards to size.
Tied these this morning - 1X short size 22 hook makes for about a size 24 fly. Really don’t like tying stuff that small.
Fished them this afternoon. The problem with such small flies, for me, anyway, is that most of the fishies that hit them do not hook up. This one did.
John
… small flies, but gave it a go this morning. These were tied on a size 22 1X short hook, which makes them about size 24.
Fished them this afternoon to the tiny BWO hatch. The problem with such small flies, for me, anyway, is that most of the fishies that hit them do not hook up. This one did.
The other five that hit one of those tidbits splashed and jerked the line a bit, then went bye-bye. But it was fun.
John
Byron,
Have you thought about using this for a Baetis/BWO abdomen -in yellow/olive ?
I’m working on 18 different Baetis/BWO patterns, at the moment, to cover the olive/gray variant I frequently run into on the Eastern slope of the Sierras ( and in other areas, as well)…
The BOX…half - FULL
PT/TB 
PT:
Can you provide a different link? That one did not work for me.
Thanks,
Byron
John
Where did you get that real big fake dime???
Byron you can get them in the magic shops! Magicians use them as props. About 4" in diameter.
cheers,
C.
I found one of the big fake dimes laying around and tied this sparkle dun to put on top of it:
Byron,
Try this one, it is combo thread from Cascade Crest:
http://tyerstoolshop.com/Crest-threads-6-0-combo.html
PT/TB
Holy Mackeral - a 2" long sparkle dun. Can’t wait to see the fish that takes that puppy.
John
Having worked professionally as a magician I, of course, have one of those huge coins. (Though about the same size it is Sterling.)
We have BWO’s but ours are #16 to 18 so not much point tying them tiny. These are caenis imitations which is about the same size as your huge BWOs.
Cheers,
A.
I gotta get me one of those magic show dimes…and find out where he’s catching these taimen size trout.