Blue Winged Olive

How it's tied

The Blue Winged Olive fly is crafted using a short or medium shank hook. The body is formed with olive dubbing or thread, which is wrapped around the hook shank to achieve a slender, tapered shape. The tail consists of a few strands of hackle fibers or microfibbets.

A distinguishing feature of the Blue Winged Olive fly, the wing is created from upright and divided materials such as synthetic fibers, mallard flank feathers, or CDC feathers, giving the fly a realistic look in the water. A grizzly or dun-colored hackle is wrapped around the thorax, creating a bushy collar that helps the fly float and mimic the natural legs of the mayfly.

What it mimics

The Blue Winged Olive fly is designed to imitate the adult stage of the Baetis mayfly, a common and crucial food source for trout and other fish species throughout the year. Its natural profile, carefully crafted wings, and lifelike hackle make it an effective and appealing pattern for targeting fish that feed on these surface insects, especially during hatch periods.

Where it's used

The Blue Winged Olive fly can be employed in a variety of water types, such as rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. It is particularly potent when targeting trout and other fish species that feed on adult mayflies, especially during the Baetis hatch. To fish the Blue Winged Olive fly effectively, the most important thing is to match that hatch. If the Mayfly is around, the fish will take! Simply dead drift the fly.