Sweeper BWO Emerger

Fly: Marshall Porterfield, Photograph: Hans Weilenmann

Nymph
Hook: Dry fly hook 12-18
Thread: Unithread 8/0, Black
Tail: Pheasant tail fibers
Ribbing: Copper wire
Abdomen: Pheasant tail fibers
Wing case: Pheasant tail fibers
Thorax: Peacock herl
Head: Black thread
Emerging Dun
Hook: Dry fly hook 12-18
Thread: Unithread 8/0, black
Underbody: Copper wire, plastic tubing, or monofilament
Body: Olive beaver dubbing
Wing: Blue dun CDC
Hackle: Blue dun
Head: Black thread
Notes and fishing instructions:
Yes this is two flies in one. This style was named by my best fishing buddy, who upon first seeing the pattern correctly predicted that “it will sweep up all of the trout on the stream.” It is tied backwards in order to prevent the emerger part from interfering with hook set. The first versions had this problem. There are a couple of ways to accomplish this pattern. The first is to tie the emerger and add it to the hook before tying the nymph. The alternative is to tie in the emerger underbody as you tie the nymph, then complete the fly by turning the hook around in the vise to tie the emerger.

Basic instructions: This is essentially a BWO version of the Mayfly Sweeper Emerger pattern created by combining a BWO emerging dun with Sawyer’s PT nymph. For a description of tying instructions see the Sweeper Mayfly Emerger.


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© 2003 Hans Weilenmann
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