Continuing our series on BWO basics….

So what flies, and when do you optimally use them?

Common sense, but worth restating - one of the keys is that fish will be cued in and most receptive to BWOs when there are fair to significant numbers of them on the water or in the air. 

For emerging duns, remember that these flies are small, and they often struggle to penetrate the surface water tension, and can be trapped in the surface film – trout really cue into this phase.  A CDC cripple or a Baetis Cripple can be useful patterns here, as can a soft hackle. 

Duns that penetrate the surface film must then dry their wings before take off – think Sparkle Dun, Parachute Baetis (helps my older eyes), and a CDC Comparadun here. 

Nymphs are always a decent play in the season, and an appropriately sized Pheasant Tail or GRHE- try dead-drifting below a riffle, or in slow to moderate flows.

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