Mad BWO Emerger
A bead head dry fly might seem “mad” but this pattern is actually named for my favorite fly tying partner. Considering the trout attracting power of bead head nymphs, I thought why not bring some flash to surface patterns. The bead emulates the light focused by the surface tension dimples created by the insect’s feet on the water surface. Plastic beads are light and can be supported by most standard floatation techniques. The beads can be purchased in a craft store, but don’t come counter drilled, so you may need to do this yourself. This is a simple pattern where the dubbed body and bead are allowed to sink down just below the water surface. You will want to change the amount of CDC in the wing to account for different conditions and enhance floatation in choppy water.